Tripura: Amidst growing tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka over the issue of illegal immigrants, a Bangladeshi national was shot dead by Border Security Force (BSF) close to the Latiapura Border Outpost in Tripura’s Unakoti district, the police said on Saturday.
The Bangladeshi national was allegedly engaged in smuggling when he was shot, the police said.
A BSF constable patrolling the area near the border fence on Friday evening saw some people throwing bags across from the Indian side. Others waiting on the other side of the fence (Indian territory) were attempting to collect them, an official said.
The constable was assaulted by people from Bangladesh when he intervened and attempted to drive the smugglers away. He was attacked with sharp weapons and his hand was injured.
Realising that he was at risk, the BSF jawan fired two rounds towards the miscreants. Other jawans rushed to the spot on hearing the commotion.
The smugglers from both sides retreated and a search was conducted. The Bangladeshi national was found lying on the ground with a bullet injury in his left shoulder. Efforts were made to revive him but he died at the spot. The body has been shifted to the district hospital at Kailasahar for a post-mortem.
The Tripura sector of the Indo-Bangladesh Border has remained turbulent throughout. In November, a person was apprehended by the BSF in connection with the assault on two security personnel. The jawans were on duty at Bishalgarh in Sepahijala district when they were attacked by smugglers.
In January 2025, a BSF team was attacked by a group of Bangladeshi smugglers near Magroli in Tripura’s Unakoti district. However, no one was injured in that incident.
Barely two months later, in March 2025, a Bangladeshi smuggler was killed and two BSF personnel sustained injuries during a clash at Magroli.
Tripura has an 856 km border with Bangladesh, most of which is covered by barbed wire fencing. Some stretches remain unfenced though.
