Border on alert: BSF jawan crosses border while chasing cattle smugglers; kidnapped and dragged deep into Bangladeshi territory

JALPAIGURI: A BSF jawan was abducted by Bangladeshi cattle smugglers and taken deep into Bangladeshi territory after he inadvertently entered the neighbouring country while chasing them.

The incident occurred early on Sunday near the Teen Bigha Corridor under Kuchlibari PS in Cooch Behar's Mekhliganj. BSF jawan Bed Prakash, posted at the Arjun BOP, spotted a gang of 10-12 cattle smugglers and was in hot pursuit. His fellow jawans were at a distance from him at that time.


Prakash followed as the Bangladeshi miscreants ran towards the Angarpota Dahagram enclave. The BSF jawan, while chasing them, entered the Bangladeshi enclave, unable to determine the international border due to heavy fog. As he entered Bangladesh, the smugglers captured him.

Locals, however, claimed that BGB personnel of the 51 Battalion at Angarpota Dahagram allegedly helped the smugglers capture Prakash, who was significantly outnumbered at the time of the incident. BSF officials held many flag meetings with BGB officials at Teen Bigha throughout the day but could not get the jawan back. "The meetings are still on. Nothing can be said now," a Bengal police officer said, adding that Bangladesh forces were denying that a BSF jawan was held up on their territory.

Mekhliganj SDPO Ashis P Subba said they were aware of the situation and had asked people living in the border areas to remain cautious.

The Teen Bigha Corridor is a narrow strip of Indian land in Bengal which falls within Bangladesh territory, allowing access to its landlocked Dahagram-Angarpota enclave, connecting it to the mainland. This unique passage enables Bangladeshi citizens and vehicles to traverse Indian territory without visas, serving as a vital link for residents of the isolated enclaves.

It may be recalled that in Aug 2015, when India and Bangladesh went for the exchange of enclaves, Angarpota Dahagram was left out of the purview of the Land Boundary Agreement, which locals at Mekhliganj opposed. They wanted this to be exchanged as well. "This enclave has always been used for carrying out illegal activities," a local said.



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