BSF ‘takes back’ nine people from zero line at Naogaon border

They are taken back sometime between Wednesday evening and Thursday early hours, says BGB

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly taken back nine people, including women and children, who were on the zero line of the Sapahar border in Naogaon for hours.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) believes they were taken inside Indian territory sometime between Wednesday evening and Thursday early hours after what it called a “failed attempt to push-in”.

In a statement on Thursday morning, the BGB said BSF personnel from the Elenpur Camp of the 29 Battalion attempted to push the group through Border Pillar 244/MP near the Adaltala Border Outpost (BOP) around 4am on Wednesday.

Lt Col Mohammad Ariful Islam, commander of the Naogaon-16 BGB battalion, said there were three women, three children, and three men.

On Wednesday morning, a BGB patrol team from the Adaltala BOP went to the spot and stopped them near the border. As the paramilitary force resisted, the nine individuals took position on the zero line.

Later, the two border forces sat in a flag meeting, but to no avail.

Amid the border chaos, the BGB deployed additional members to control the situation and intensified surveillance with the help of locals.

The nine people have not been seen on the zero line since Thursday morning, the statement said.

On Jun 5 and Jun 8, the BSF reportedly attempted to push 40 people through the Porsha and Sapahar borders.

Those attempts were also thwarted after BGB personnel and local residents maintained a vigilant presence, reportedly forcing the BSF to take them back.