BSF Thwarts Infiltration Bid From Bangladesh In West Bengal Amid Unrest
The BSF said that it thwarted a 'significant' infiltration attempt by a large group of Bangladeshis in West Bengal amid 'high alert'.
Bangladesh Crisis: Amid an ongoing "high alert" along the International Border (IB) in West Bengal, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday said that it thwarted a "significant" infiltration attempt by a large group of Bangladeshis. This comes as the neighbouring country witnesses turmoil due to violence triggered by widespread anti-government protests against the quota system for jobs in the country.
According to officials, the force's personnel stopped about 120-140 Bangladeshi citizens who were attempting to cross over to the Indian side from multiple locations in the eastern state. The force is on a "high alert" mode since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Dhaka earlier this week.
The North Bengal Frontier of the force issued a statement to quell "rumours" and clarify that there was "no widespread movement of the minority population from Bangladesh towards the Indian border."
"The individuals gathered were primarily motivated by fears of local unrest. The BSF, in coordination with the BGB, and Bangladeshi civil authorities has reassured these individuals of their safety and encouraged them to return to their homes," a spokesperson for the frontier headquartered in Kadamtala, Darjeeling, said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
The Bangladeshi nationals were observed gathering near the IB around noon in two sectors, the statement said. These gatherings were prompted by fears of attacks by protestors in Bangladesh, it said.
According to the statement, BSF personnel demonstrated "exceptional vigilance" and proactive measures and swiftly responded to these situations," ensuring the security of the border and the safety of the gathered Bangladeshi nationals.
In one sector, it said, the BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh, as well as local civil authorities, sent back 35 Bangladeshi civilians to their homes. "BSF has deployed additional forces to manage the situation effectively," the statement said said.
In another sector, a group of Bangladeshi villagers approached the IB, causing a brief commotion, but the BSF personnel "promptly engaged" with the group, and the situation was peacefully resolved without any "adverse" incidents. The villagers returned to their homes, and BSF remains on high alert, the spokesperson said.
In an another incident, the North Bengal Frontier said, a "significant infiltration attempt was thwarted when a large Bangladeshi crowd was observed near the border." It further stated, "BSF personnel quickly mobilised and, with the cooperation of BGB, dispersed the crowd, preventing any violation of the International border," as quoted by PTI.
The North Bengal frontier of the BSF guards 932.39 km section of the total 4,096-km-long India-Bangladesh international border covering the districts of Uttar Dinajpur, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar in West Bengal.
Hundreds Of Bangladeshis Gather At Border Seeking Refuge
Amid the unrest in Bangladesh, hundreds of nationals from the neighbouring country gathered at the international border with India in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district on Wednesday, seeking to crossover claiming that they were under attack in their country, officials said.
The incident took place near Dakshin Berubari village in the Jhaportala border outpost area, they said, adding that the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) later took them back. These people belonged to five villages in Bangladesh's Panchagarh district, which shares border with Jalpaiguri, they added.
"The Bangladeshis had gathered at the border, but none were able to enter India as the border was completely sealed. They were later taken back by the BGB," a BSF official said, as quoted by PTI. A local said that those gathered across the barbed wire were pleading to let them in. "But we are helpless. They recounted their horrific experiences," he said.
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