Agartala: Three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were seriously injured after being attacked by villagers in Tripura for foiling a smuggling attempt along the India-Bangladesh border.
Eight persons have been arrested in this connection. A search is underway to nab the other accused.
The incident occurred in the state’s Sepahijala district on Monday after a verbal altercation between locals and personnel of the 49 Bn BSF who are posted at the Ashabari Border Outpost (BOP).
The BSF personnel reportedly noticed some Indian and Bangladeshi smugglers engaged in illegal activity along the international border. The jawans rushed to the spot and apprehended an Indian smuggler identified as Hefzur Rahman. The Bangladeshi smugglers, who were on the other side of the border fence, managed to flee. The other Indian smugglers also escaped.
The detained smuggler allegedly informed villagers that he had been assaulted by the BSF personnel, following which a large number of men and women gathered at the spot.
The locals blocked the Boxanagar-Rahimpur Road, surrounded the BSF vehicle and attacked the personnel with sticks, bamboo, and iron rods. Company commander Rohit and two other BSF personnel were injured
A video of the incident that has gone viral on social media, shows the mob rushing towards the BSF personnel and attacking them.
It has also been alleged that the attackers attempted to snatch the rifle of a BSF jawan and damaged a BSF vehicle. One of the attackers was also injured in the incident.
The injured personnel were then taken to Boxanagar Primary Health Centre (PHC) for treatment.
The police subsequently arrested eight people involved in the attack. An intensive search operation is underway to apprehend the remaining accused. Senior BSF and police officials rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. However, tension continued to prevail in the area, and security has been tightened following the incident.
Tripura chief minister Manik Saha condemned the incident and said that attacks on BSF personnel are “unacceptable” and a “matter of grave concern”.
“I strongly condemn the brutal assault on our brave BSF personnel at Ashabari by a group of miscreants. Such acts of violence against our security forces are completely unacceptable and deserve unequivocal condemnation,” he posted on X.
Saha also confirmed that eight accused persons have been arrested in connection with the assault.
“In connection with the assault on BSF personnel at Ashabari, Boxanagar, eight accused persons have been arrested. All those involved will be brought to justice, and strict legal action will be taken against them in accordance with the law. Violence against our security personnel will not be tolerated,” the CM said.
He also directed the authorities to take strict action against those responsible.
“Any attack on our security personnel is a matter of grave concern and must be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law. Concerned authorities directed to take swift and stringent action against those responsible and ensure that justice is delivered. Our security personnel deserve the utmost respect and protection,” Saha added.
The state shares an 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh and is surrounded on three sides by the neighbouring country. The state remains particularly sensitive to cross-border migration, smuggling and other trans-border criminal activities. Most stretches of the international border have been fenced to prevent illegal movements and cross-border crimes.
