Clash on India-Bangladesh border, BSF fired tear gas shells

New Delhi: Tension erupted on Saturday at the Sukhdevpur border of Bangladesh, adjacent to Malda district of West Bengal, when some people were trying to cross the Bangladesh border and infiltrate towards India. The residents of Sukhdevpur chased the Bangladeshi citizens. Then stones started being thrown from the other side. To control the situation, the BSF fired tear gas shells. The Bangladeshi citizens fled after being chased.

In the last few days, there have been several attempts to enter India from the Bangladesh border. Earlier, Bangladeshi citizens had fled after being chased by Indian border residents, but on Saturday they tried to enter forcibly. There is no fencing for one and a half kilometers on the Sukhdevpur border. Whenever the BSF tried to install barbed wire, the BGB stopped it. On the other hand, tunnels were also seen being dug in the ground. Local residents say that Bangladeshi citizens have come to this side and harvested the crop.

The tension on the border has been continuing since Friday night. Then the local residents stopped it. To control the situation, the BSF fired tear gas shells. The residents on the other side chased and ran away. Earlier, the BGB had repeatedly opposed the installation of barbed wire on the border.

On the other hand, a statement issued by the BSF said that the situation became tense due to a minor altercation between Indian and Bangladeshi farmers on the India-Bangladesh international border of the 119th Battalion’s border post Sukhdevpur at around 11:45 am on Saturday. This incident happened when some Indian farmers had gone ahead to work in their fields near the international border like on normal days.

During this time, Indian farmers accused the Bangladeshi farmers working in the fields across the border of stealing the crop, due to which a debate started between the farmers of both the countries. The incident escalated when farmers from both sides started gathering in large numbers and started abusing and pelting stones at each other. Due to the absence of fencing in a large area, Indian farmers also did not face any hindrance in moving forward.

As soon as the incident was reported, BSF and BGB jawans reached the spot and brought the situation under control by dispersing the farmers of their respective countries and sent them back. The ruckus continued for some time but there is no report of anyone being injured in this incident.

In a statement issued by the BSF, it has been said that the BSF advised the Indian farmers to stay away from such disputes on the border and asked them to inform the BSF in case of any problem related to farming on the border in future. The BGB also played a positive role in controlling the situation and immediately took necessary action in their area and prevented the situation from worsening.

In this regard, the commandants of the BSF and BGB units of the concerned area are also trying to establish better coordination among themselves. Indian farmers have been completely pushed back, but the presence of a few Bangladeshi nationals was seen within 50-75 metres of Bangladesh from the International Border till late afternoon, who were seen continuously trying to remove the BGB. The situation at the border is now normal and under control.