Seven more Bangladesh nationals held in North Tripura

Infiltration from Bangladesh into Tripura remained unabated and on Friday again  seven more Bangladesh nationals were arrested in North Tripura district for their illegal entry into India.

Though, in view of ongoing unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh and strengthening of border security by BSF to stop any attempt of infiltration by Bangladeshi anti-social elements has no impact in Tripura as influx by Bangladeshi and Rohingyas continues and unabated.

Within the last five days above 60 Bangladesh nationals, Rohingyas including women, transgender and touts, were arrested by the security forces from different parts  of the state and the infiltration from the neighbouring country into Tripura unabated.

In its latest edition, during a routine check-up, the police arrested the seven Bangladesh citizens, all trans- gender, at Panisagar in North Tripura district  when they were travelling in a Guwahati bound bus.

Police said that all detainees confessed that they were trying to go to Mumbai via Guwahati. They are keen to board a Mumbai bound train in Assam  and they are giving contradictory statements about their plan to go to Mumbai.

Police added that that some fake Aadhar and PAN cards were found in their custody and they are investigating that how they procured such fake Indian cards. 

Earlier, on Thursday eight Bangladeshi nationals, including two women and two Indian touts were arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel at the Agartala railway station before they could board the train to move to some other states in India.

Over the last two-and-a-half months, more than 170 Bangladeshi nationals and 32 Rohingyas were arrested by the GRP, Border Security Force (BSF), and Tripura Police from the Agartala railway station and various other places in Tripura after they illegally entered India.

A BSF spokesman said that the border guarding troops on Friday foiled an infiltration bid in Kailashahar areas under Unakoti district.

He said that a BSF ambush party, which was ahead of the border fence in the area of Tillabazar Border Out Post, observed some suspicious movement of 15-20 Bangladeshi nationals moving towards the border fence from the Bangladesh side with an intention to cross over and enter India.

“When the BSF ambush party challenged the group of infiltrators to stop, they did not pay heed and further tried to forcibly cross the Border Fence. One stun grenade was fired by the BSF party to deter the infiltration bid. But some of the infiltrators who were equipped with sharp edged weapons, tried to attack the BSF party.

As a part of graded response and non-lethal strategy, one round of pump action gun was then fired. When the non-lethal approach failed to make any difference one round of 5.56 INSAS was fired towards the Bangladeshi nationals then they managed to flee towards their homes (on the Bangladesh side),” the spokesman said.

He said that in view of ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, the BSF has stepped up its vigilance along the 856-km border with Tripura and maintained close coordination with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at various levels.