Bangladesh Riots: India’s Border Security Force foils infiltration attempts of minorities

More than a thousand Bangladeshis gathered across the border at Sitalkuchi in West Bengal, trying to cross over to the Indian mainland. It’s being reported that many more are moving towards the border amid the horrific violence that minorities are being exposed to.

The ones who are trying to cross over are mainly Bangladeshi minorities comprising hindus and buddhists. They were seen crossing the Kharpa river near Pathantuli village of Sitalkuchi block in the Coochbehar District of West Bengal.

The Indian BSF is dealing with this “emerging challenge that is quite new to the BSF”, Guwahati Frontier of the Border Security Force stated. This is a significant and different kind of challenge, he said. In a statement the BSF said, “Approximately 1000 individuals, reportedly Bangladeshi nationals, approached the international border, seeking refuge in India.”

A senior BSF official said the force promptly approached its counterpart Border Guards Bangladesh “to take the Bangladeshi nationals back, ensuring that the situation was managed without escalating tensions.” The quick and decisive actions, in coordination with India’s civil administration would be very crucial to maintaining law and order along with managing the turmoil and fear in the border areas.

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On the other side of the wire, Rana Dasgupta, General Secretary of the Hindu-Boudhya-Cristian Oikya Parishad (HB COP) have stated, “Amid reports of burning places of worship, acquisition of minority lands, loot, extortion, large numbers of Hindus are heading towards the Indian border, including Panchagarh Border.”

HB COP has also written to the current interim head of the country, Muhammad Yunus about the dire situation of the minorities. According to Rana Dasgupta, scores of people are looking to cross over to India from Panchagarh in Bangladesh to the Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar borders of India situated in West Bengal.