The Indian government's ongoing drive to deport illegal Bangladeshi nationals has led to a sharp escalation in tensions with Bangladesh. Since May 4, Indian authorities have repatriated 742 Bangladeshis, under what Bangladesh is calling "Operation Dhakka." The campaign involves gathering undocumented Bangladeshis from across India and pushing them back across the border.

According to Indian officials, a 2016 estimate placed the number of Bangladeshi infiltrators at over 20 million.

A serious flashpoint occurred on Monday at the Thakuranbari International Border in Mankachar, Assam. The Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire on the ground to control what it described as interference by the Bangladesh Army (BGB) during a deportation operation. The confrontation reportedly started when 14 Bangladeshi nationals were being repatriated, but were blocked by BGB personnel, who crossed into the border zone and engaged in a heated exchange with the BSF.

To defuse the situation, senior officials from both sides rushed to the location and are currently engaged in dialogue. Notably, four buses suspected to be carrying Bangladeshi nationals departed from the Matia detention camp in Goalpara the previous night, as part of the ongoing deportations.

The incident comes at a sensitive time in bilateral relations, especially following the rise of the Yunus government in Bangladesh. While India frames the campaign as a crackdown on illegal infiltration, Bangladesh and several human rights organizations have criticized the operation, warning it could strain ties and raise humanitarian concerns.