Border Security Force (BSF) personnel keep vigil along the India-Bangladesh Borderin Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal. File photo
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Border Security Force (BSF) arrested seven Bangladeshi nationals for illegally entering India and three Indian agents for enabling the process. Multiple operations were carried out on February 6 based on credible intelligence. BSF officials said that this operation has dealt a significant blow to the cross-border infiltration networks. 

The operation was carried out by the 146th Battalion of the BSF South Bengal Frontier along the international borders along Nadia and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal.  

On February 6 morning at around 5 am, the BSF patrolling party near Jalangi border outpost noticed seven infiltrators attempting the cross the border from the Indian side and head into Bangladesh. Though the BSF acted swiftly, five of them escaped in the darkness of the night and two were caught. 

Interrogation of the two apprehended Bangladeshi nationals revealed that the agent helping in the illegal border crossing was from the Indian border village of Madhubana. 

The BSF used one of the illegal infiltrators to deceive the Indian tout and called him to a specific location and was caught by the officers when he arrived. Further questioning of the tout revealed the location of the other five who had managed to escape in the morning. Acting on this information, the officers disguised in civil clothes reached a designated location and strategically used the agent to call the five to a designated location and come out their hiding spot. They were immediately apprehended right after. 

In the same manner the other two agents were also nabbed where the BSF personnel met them disguised as Bangladeshi nationals. During the arrest one of the agents allegedly tried to attack the BSF officers with a sickle but was immediately overpowered by the troops. 

Additionally, 16 mobiles, one bike, Indian and Bangladeshi currency notes, and currencies from Kenya and Indonesia were seized during the operations. 

The Public Relations Officer of BSF South Bengal Frontier lauded the efforts of BSF troops. 

In another related incident, on February 6 early morning, the Border Outpost Bajitpur of 115th Battalion of BSF South Bengal Frontier found an unconscious man near the border who had sustained multiple injuries. He was immediately shifted to a local hospital where he was declared dead. 

India-Bangladesh tensions 

This comes as the India-Bangladesh borders remain tense as relations between the two neighbours remained in turbulent water since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime in Bangladesh in August 2024. 

A row had also erupted along the borders about fencing issues with both countries summoning diplomats and sending a message about protocols and past agreements.  

Despite disputes emerging in the Malda Rajshahi and Cooch Behar Lalmonirhat border, border guards of both the countries have exercised restraint and held talks to ease the situation.