Nine arrests made following attack on BSF personnel in Tripura near India-Bangladesh border

Guwahati: Nine people have so far been arrested in connection with the reported attack on Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at Ashabari along the India-Bangladesh international border in Tripura’s Sepahijala district.

A senior police official said three BSF personnel, including a Company Commander, were injured after a mob comprising men and women allegedly attacked them with sticks near the international border at Ashabari, under Kalamchaura police station, on Monday.

Police official said that BSF personnel noticed some Indian and Bangladeshi smugglers allegedly engaged in illegal cross-border trade along the international border. The jawans immediately rushed to the spot and apprehended an Indian smuggler. However, the Bangladeshi smugglers, who were on the other side of the border fence, fled. The Indian smuggler also managed to escape and allegedly informed villagers that he had been assaulted by BSF personnel, the official said.


The police added many men and women gathered at the spot, surrounded the BSF vehicle and launched an attack on the personnel, leaving three of them, including the Company Commander, injured.

The mob also allegedly attempted to block the road by felling trees to prevent the movement of security forces and civilian vehicles. The police official said that nine people allegedly involved in the attack had been arrested so far, while an intensive search operation, launched on Monday night, was underway to apprehend the remaining accused.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the home portfolio condemned the attack on the BSF personnel and said that those involved would be brought to justice.

Taking to his official X account, CM Saha said, “In connection with the assault on BSF personnel at Ashabari, Boxanagar, eight accused persons have been arrested. All those involved will be brought to justice, and strict legal action will be taken against them in accordance with the law. Violence against our security personnel will not be tolerated.”

In another post, the Chief Minister strongly condemned the incident, describing the assault on the BSF personnel as unacceptable. “I strongly condemn the brutal assault on our brave BSF personnel at Ashabari by a group of miscreants. Such acts of violence against our security forces are completely unacceptable and deserve unequivocal condemnation. Any attack on our security personnel is a matter of grave concern and must be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law,” he said.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) and senior Left leader Jitendra Chaudhury also strongly condemned the attack on the BSF personnel. However, Chaudhury accused the state government of failing to take appropriate action against those involved in cross-border smuggling.

“A section of ruling party workers is involved in the illegal cross-border trade. The authority remained a silent spectator,” Chaudhury, a former minister, told the media.

He alleged that the involvement of certain ruling party workers in illegal cross-border activities had contributed to the persistence of the problem and criticised the authorities for not taking adequate steps to curb smuggling activities.