It is information that one would expect to read on April 1st. This Wednesday, Indian border guards explained to Agence France Presse that the government is seriously considering deploying a few battalions of reptiles to reduce illegal immigration from neighboring Bangladesh.
“We have been asked to study the idea of deploying reptiles such as snakes and crocodiles in unprotected spaces formed by the rivers,” said Manoj Barnwa, a senior officer of the Border Security Force (BSF), to AFP. The border between the two countries is mainly composed of deltas from the rivers of the Himalayas, marshes, or mangroves – stretching over 4,000 kilometers.
Since coming to power in 2014, Narendra Modi has made the fight against illegal immigration a priority. Immigration from Bangladesh is particularly targeted by the Hindu ultra-nationalist government, as the country’s population is mostly Muslim. The area between the Indian state of Bengal and the Bangladeshi territory, where only 1,647 out of 2,216 kilometers are protected by barriers, is where New Delhi wants to implement this morbid innovation.
“The idea is innovative, but it raises many challenges, especially in terms of security. How to get the reptiles? What would be their impact on the residents of the villages along the border?” detailed Manoj Barnwa to AFP.
Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka have been particularly tense since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power after fifteen years of rule, following a massive popular mobilization movement in August 2024. The new Bangladeshi Foreign Minister, Khalilur Rahman, appointed under the new government after the February 2026 elections, is starting his first official visit to India this Wednesday. While immigration will undoubtedly be part of the diplomatic discussions, it is uncertain whether the minister will appreciate this Indian “innovation.”
[Context: The Indian government is considering using reptiles like snakes and crocodiles to reduce illegal immigration from Bangladesh.]
[Fact Check: The information in the article is accurate and based on statements from Indian border guards and officials.]
