Bangladesh hands over 'abducted' Assam farmer

Guwahati, June 17: An Assam farmer who was allegedly abducted by a group of Bangladeshi nationals from along the India-Bangladesh border in Cachar district on Tuesday was handed over to Indian authorities.

The farmer, identified as Ranjit Das of Cachar district, had reportedly gone to collect grass from land near the international border on Tuesday morning when he went missing.

Local residents alleged that Das was forcibly taken across the border by Bangladeshi nationals from an area beyond the border fencing, commonly referred to as the “Zero Point”, which sources said falls within Indian territory.

“The abducted man, Ranjit Das, was handed over to Indian authorities by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at around 10 pm on Tuesday,” a police source said.

The incident had triggered concern among residents of the border area, prompting intervention by border security agencies on both sides.

Meanwhile, in a separate development along the India-Bangladesh border, nine suspected Bangladeshi illegal immigrants were reportedly stranded in the no-man’s land near Assam’s South Salmara-Mankachar district.

Officials said a flag meeting was held between the border forces of the two countries to resolve the matter.

The twin incidents have once again drawn attention to the complex security and humanitarian challenges along the India-Bangladesh border in Assam.

Also Read: Over ₹6 lakh Cr invested in NE since 2014 to build connectivity, trade and tourism hub: Shekhawat

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