In a tense cross-border incident, two Bangladeshi nationals were detained by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) from the Dharmojain border area in Biral, Dinajpur, on Friday (May 02). In response, outraged villagers captured two Indian nationals.
The Bangladeshis detained by BSF have been identified as Enamul Islam (50) and his son Masum (15), residents of the Dharmojain area. According to local sources, the two were harvesting paddy near the 320 main border pillar between sub-pillars 9 and 10 when BSF personnel crossed into Bangladeshi territory and took them away around 12 pm.
In retaliation, local villagers captured two Indian citizens, Abinash Tudu and Philip Soren, and temporarily held them at Karulia Primary School.
Although the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local police have yet to issue formal statements, Nur Islam, chairman of the local union, confirmed the sequence of events. He added that the two Indian nationals were later handed over to the BGB after they arrived at the scene.
Biral Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdus Sabur stated that the matter would be addressed through a flag meeting between BGB and BSF.
Naek Subedar Rezaul Karim, in charge of the Dharmojain BGB camp, confirmed the incident and reported that discussions are underway with BSF to resolve the issue diplomatically.
