Bangladeshi Intruders Attack Indian Border Guard Amid Deportation Efforts
Incident at the India-Bangladesh Border
The audacity of Bangladeshi intruders in India has escalated to the point where they are now retaliating against Indian forces. Currently, a significant operation is underway to identify and repatriate Bangladeshi nationals. Recently, in the Malda-Murshidabad border area of West Bengal, near the Chandni Chowk border post, Bangladeshi citizens assaulted a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier, forcibly dragging him back into Bangladesh. The soldier, identified as Ganesh from the 71st Battalion, was recovered approximately four hours later following a flag meeting between the BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Initially, it was reported that the soldier inadvertently crossed into Bangladesh while pursuing suspected intruders. However, an internal BSF investigation revealed that he was still within Indian territory when he was forcibly pulled across the border.
Video Evidence of the Assault
A video of the incident has surfaced, showing the soldier tied to a banana tree while being verbally abused by locals. Some individuals reportedly assaulted him, although others intervened to prevent further violence and handed him over to the BGB. BSF officials have not confirmed any physical assault on the soldier. A BSF representative stated, "The soldier, adopting a humanitarian approach, mistook the Bangladeshi nationals for ordinary villagers and allowed them to approach him. Unfortunately, they turned out to be criminals who overpowered him and took him across the border. We will implement stricter measures to prevent such incidents in the future." Officials also clarified that the soldier did not sustain any injuries.
International Media Reaction
Meanwhile, foreign media outlets have begun to express outrage over the deportation of Bangladeshi intruders from India. Reports from a prominent news organization highlight claims of mistreatment of Bangladeshi citizens. They referenced a woman named Shona Bano, who allegedly resides in Assam's Barpeta district. According to her, on May 25, she was summoned to a local police station and subsequently taken to the Bangladesh border without explanation. She claims that she was forcibly pushed across the border along with approximately 13 others. Shona asserts that she has always lived in India but has been fighting to prove her identity as an Indian citizen rather than an "illegal Bangladeshi." In her account, she stated, "They pushed me towards Bangladesh at gunpoint. I spent two days without food or water, lying in a field surrounded by mosquitoes and leeches." After two days in no-man's land, she was reportedly taken to an old-looking prison in Bangladesh.
Border Dynamics Between India and Bangladesh
It is important to note that India shares a 4,096 km open border with Bangladesh, which, despite security measures, allows for easier crossings at various points. Reports indicate that in May, India allegedly pushed over 1,200 individuals back into Bangladesh, with 100 of them being recognized as Indian citizens and returned. The BGB has stated that they have increased patrols along the border to prevent such incidents. India has yet to issue an official response to these allegations.