BSF returns four Bangladesh policemen detained from Indian territory

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has returned four Bangladesh policemen detained after they “inadvertently” strayed into Indian territory during a raid.

Comilla and Agartala correspondentsbdnews24.com
Published : 26 March 2015, 11:33 AM
Updated : 26 March 2015, 04:05 PM

The Detective Branch (DB) personnel were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) past Thursday midnight at Akhaurha border.

The policemen returned are sub-inspectors ‘Alamgir’ and ‘Sabuj’, constables ‘Tapash’ and ‘Selim’ of Comilla DB.

A senior BSF official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told bdnews24.com that residents of a bordering village assaulted DB men mistaking them for robbers.

The policemen claimed they had crossed into Tripura while “chasing smugglers” and were apprehend by Rahimpur villagers Wednesday.

Comilla’s Assistant Superintendent of Police Jahangir Alam said they had crossed the border ‘inadvertently’ while on the lookout for smugglers.

BSF 158 Battalion Commandant Ragvish Singh handed them over to BGB 12 Battalion Commander Lt Col Md Nazrul Islam.

“They were returned as a gesture of goodwill between the BGB and the BSF,” Islam said. “But Ragvish Singh demanded they be tried under the Bangladesh law.”

Tripura shares 856km border with Bangladesh, parts of which are unfenced and hilly, making trans-border movements easy.