Border Security Force (BSF) of India has detained six Bangladeshi nationals from a border area of Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat district and handed them over to the police, amid allegations that they were beaten during the arrest.
The detained were identified as Litton Mia, 40, Ahed Ali, 28, Sarthak Hossain, 25, of Jagatber Union; Ashraful Islam, 30, of Jongra Union; and Moshiur Rahman, 30, and Jasinur Rahman, 28, of Srirampur union.
According to BGB, border sources, and local residents, the incident occurred near sub-pillar No. 3 of main pillar 866 along the Bangladesh–India border. The area lies between Bairagirhat and Jugirdanga under Mathabhanga police station in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, India, and Pachabhanda border area of Jagatber Union in Patgram, Bangladesh.
On Monday night (February 2), several Bangladeshis reportedly crossed into Indian territory with the assistance of Indian cattle smugglers. On Tuesday morning, local Indian residents detained six Bangladeshi youths and allegedly began beating them on suspicion of cattle smuggling.
Later, members of the 156th Falakata Battalion of the BSF arrived at the scene, took the detainees into custody and with the assistance of Mathabhanga police, admitted them to a hospital.
A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, allegedly showing Bangladeshi nationals being assaulted in the presence of local residents.
Senior officials of the BSF and police visited the incident site and the hospital. It was learned that the detainees will be produced before a court after receiving medical treatment.
Lieutenant Colonel Syed Fazle Munim, Commander of Rangpur 61 BGB Battalion, said they were aware of the detention of Bangladeshi nationals inside Indian territory. “We have contacted the BSF authorities. The BSF informed us that the detainees were possibly involved in cattle smuggling and were handed over to the police by local residents. The matter is under investigation,” he said.
MS/NSA
