AGARTALA: Political instability in Bangladesh and alleged atrocities on the supporters of then Sheikh Hasina government, cross border movement of illegal Bangladeshi to Tripura became a major law and order issue for the state government.
Police said everyday Bangladeshi nationals have been crossing over to Tripura managing border security and a small portion of them are being detained but a sizable number of people got sheltered in the various locations of the state while some of them are travelling to other parts of the country.
BSF recovered the body of a 16-year-old girl from Bangladesh, identified as Swarna Das, with bullet injury at the zero point of India-Bangladesh border near Kalerkhandi village in Kailashahar under Unokoti district on Sunday.
Reportedly, Swarna and her parents had been facing problems in Bangladesh since regime change and twice in last three weeks they attempted to cross over Tripura but failed. Allegedly, minorities in Bangladesh and supporters of Hasina have been treated as enemies of the present administration of Bangladesh and a coordinated action was undertaken to push them out from the country, informed sources across the border.
According to BSF, Swarna was allegedly hit by a bullet fired by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) while attempting to cross the Indo-Bangladesh border along with her parents. Swarna, along with her parents, Rebati Das and Rani Das, had hired an agent to cross the border and enter Indian Territory to get rid of the atrocities.
When they were attempting to cross the border near pillar no-57 taking the advantage of absence of BSF at night, the BGB opened fire. After being hit by the bullet, Swarna managed to run a short distance before she died at the zero point. Her parents, however, managed to escape back to Bangladesh, but were later apprehended by the BGB.
They fell ill and are currently undergoing treatment at Moulvibazar District Hospital, source claimed. The incident came to light on Monday morning when the BSF personnel spotted the body at the zero point. Due to the girl’s death within India, Bangladesh authorities were unable to retrieve her body.
A team led by Additional Superintendent of Police, Unokoti along with BSF officials, reached the spot and retrieved the body in the afternoon and the body was then sent for post-mortem to Unokoti district hospital in Kailashahar. The panic had gripped the people of Kalerkhandi village after they heard the sound of gunfire late on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, police said daily detention of illegal Bangladeshi nationals in different parts of Tripura appeared as a serious concern and potential security implications. Some Bangladeshi nationals have taken shelter in the bordering locations including in Agartala to their relatives and contacts and have been trying to manage Indian documents, sources claimed.
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