Villagers in Tripura’s West District apprehended two Bangladeshi nationals suspected of cross-border theft after finding them near the India-Bangladesh border, later handing them over to the BSF.
Villagers Catch Suspected Thieves Near the Border
Residents of Nandalal Das Para, a village in Tripura’s West District, detained two Bangladeshi nationals in the early hours of April 20 after discovering them loitering near the India-Bangladesh border. The villagers suspected the individuals of being part of a group involved in cross-border theft.
The area, located within the Ishanpur Gram Panchayat in the Mohanpur sub-division, has reportedly experienced recurring incidents of theft, with locals alleging that the perpetrators enter from Bangladesh. Residents cite the area’s dense vegetation and poor lighting along the border as factors that facilitate these intrusions, allowing individuals to enter and leave undetected.
According to a village source, a farmer discovered three individuals near a forest adjacent to a vegetable field on the morning of April 20. This discovery raised suspicion among the villagers, who then gathered and surrounded the area.
While villagers initially spotted three individuals, one managed to escape back across the border into Bangladesh. The villagers apprehended the remaining two before notifying the Border Security Force (BSF).
Sources indicate that the detained individuals carried tools commonly associated with theft, including hand axes and a star-cutting machine. The villagers reportedly subjected the two men to a severe beating before handing them over to the BSF.
A senior BSF official confirmed the incident, stating, “The villagers detained three Bangladeshi thieves. Among them, one thief escaped from the villagers and somehow crossed the barbed wire fencing. The villagers handed over the other two to the Border Guards after beating them black and blue. However, as we failed to recover anything from them, we will hand them over to the Border Guards of Bangladesh.”
This incident is not isolated, with residents reporting that they are frequently compelled to take action themselves due to repeated intrusions in the area.
