The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) detained 23 Bangladeshis near the 99th pillar, east of the Bangladesh-India border in Feni's Chhagalnaiya around 2am Wednesday (6 January).
BSF claimed that they were detained on charges of smuggling, said Sheikh Mohammad Badruddoza, commanding officer (CO) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB-4), following a flag meeting between the BGB and BSF over the matter later in the day.
The BSF lodged a First Information Report (FIR) and handed over the apprehended Bangladeshis to the Manu police station in South Tripura district after a medical examination, Indian media reported citing a press release issued by BSF.
"We have reported the matter to the authorities. We have received the national identity cards of the detained Bangladeshi nationals. We will take legal action in this regard," said the BGB CO.
Locals rushed to the east Chhagalnaiya area of the border site after receiving information that BSF detained a Bangladeshi. Suddenly, BSF members arrived at the spot and chased them, taking away 23 people, as reported by Prothom Alo citing locals.
However, Indian media outlet NDTV published news citing BSF officials. According to the report, BSF arrested 23 Bangladeshi smugglers and seized over 6,000 kg of sugar and 17 mobile phones.
"Acting on specific information regarding trans-border smuggling of sugar, troops waited at Samarganj on Tuesday and apprehended 23 Bangladeshi smugglers," NDTV reported citing a BSF official.
"A total of 6,250 kg of sugar, packed in 125 bags, was recovered from them, and 17 mobile phones were seized. Of the 23 arrested, 22 are residents of Feni district, while one is from Chittagong in Bangladesh," added the BSF official.
