Agartala, Nov 6: The Tripura BSF attack case has seen the total number of arrests rise to 18. Police arrested eight more people in connection with the assault on Border Security Force personnel in Sepahijala district. The accused include three women, officials said on Friday.
A senior police official said teams arrested the eight accused from different parts of the district. The arrests took place on Thursday night and early Friday morning.
The case relates to the November 2 incident at Ashabari village. The village falls under Kalamchaura police station, along the India-Bangladesh international border.
Tripura BSF Attack: Police Continue Search for Remaining Accused
“An intensive search operation, launched immediately after the attack on BSF personnel on November 2, was still underway to apprehend the remaining accused,” the official told IANS.
Police have booked all 18 accused under several laws. These include the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
The eight newly arrested accused will be produced before a local court in Sepahijala district, the official said.
Earlier, police produced the first 10 accused before a court. The court sent the male accused to police custody and the women to judicial custody.
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Manik Saha Reviews BSF Attack and Border Security
Meanwhile, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha chaired a high-level meeting with senior security officials on Thursday night. He reviewed the Ashabari incident and the overall law and order situation.
In a post on X, Saha said the meeting took place at the TIFT Conference Hall in Agartala. Senior officials from the state administration, police, BSF, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Assam Rifles attended.
The Chief Minister said authorities must take strict legal action against those involved. He also directed officials to adopt zero tolerance towards cross-border smuggling.
Saha further called for stronger security measures to maintain peace and law and order.
How the November 2 Attack on BSF Personnel Happened
According to police, BSF personnel intercepted a group of alleged smugglers on November 2. The group was reportedly trying to smuggle ganja across the India-Bangladesh border.
Police said a mob of around 50 men and women then surrounded and attacked the personnel. The assault left three BSF personnel, including a Company Commander, seriously injured.
The attackers also allegedly snatched a pump-action gun (PAG) from one personnel. They also damaged a BSF vehicle. One of the alleged attackers sustained injuries during the incident.
Earlier Attacks on Security Personnel in Tripura
Tripura has witnessed other attacks on BSF and police personnel during operations against suspected smugglers.
On October 16, 2017, a vehicle allegedly driven by smugglers ran over Deepak Kumar Mandal. He served as Deputy Commandant of the BSF’s 145th Battalion.
The incident took place at Balerdepha in the smuggling-prone Sonamura subdivision of Sepahijala district. Mandal, who belonged to West Bengal, died from his injuries on October 20, 2017.
Another incident took place on November 21, 2019. Tripura Police Sub-Inspector Durga Kumar Hrangkhawl died on duty after a vehicle allegedly ran him over. Police linked the incident to suspected cross-border smuggling networks in the same district.
Tripura Shares an 856-Km Border With Bangladesh
Tripura shares an 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh. The neighbouring country surrounds the state on three sides.
This location exposes Tripura to risks linked to cross-border smuggling, illegal movement and other transnational crimes.
Authorities have fenced most stretches of the international border. However, a few sections remain unfenced. The fencing aims to prevent smuggling, illegal crossings and the movement of criminal elements.
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–IANS
