BSF detains 25 Bangladeshi nationals & Indian tout thanks to alert citizens

Balurghat , October 7 : The Border Security Force (BSF) detained 25 Bangladeshi nationals and an alleged Indian tout in South Dinajpur district of West Bengal after they were reportedly caught attempting to cross the international border into Bangladesh illegally. The incident took place early 6th Oct morning at Panchanagar in the Lohaganj area under Kushmandi.

 

 

According to local sources, the Bangladeshi nationals had allegedly been staying illegally in India for a long period and had worked in Kashmir without valid documents. On Monday night, the group reportedly gathered in the Kushmandi area with plans to cross the border and enter Bangladesh's Thakurgaon district.

 

The group came under suspicion after local residents noticed several unfamiliar people in the area. When villagers spotted them, the individuals reportedly tried to hide in nearby paddy fields.

 

BSF personnel were subsequently alerted and reached the area. The security personnel intercepted the group and detained the 25 Bangladeshi nationals along with an Indian national who was allegedly acting as a tout to facilitate their movement across the border.

 

The detained individuals were later handed over to Kushmandi police, who arrested them. Police and security agencies are now investigating how the group had entered and remained in India and whether the alleged tout was involved in arranging their movement across the international border.

 

 

 

A local youth who witnessed the incident said his mother noticed a group gathering in the area early in the morning. He later saw a person allegedly acting as a tout hiding behind his house and alerted the BSF and police.

 

Kushmandi MLA Tapas Chandra Roy also visited the area following the incident. He said the block is a border region and locals became suspicious after noticing several unfamiliar people, following which authorities were alerted.