Agartala, Mar 2 : Two Indian farmers were picked up by Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) jawans from the international border when they were working on their farmland at East Kaurangicherra area of Khowai subdivision.
The duo identified as Gurupada Debbarma and Rajib Debbarma were handed over to Srimangal police station in Bangladesh yesterday. Later, they were produced before a local court in the neighbouring country on charges of illegal entry into Bangladeshi territory.
Around five farmers including Gurupada and Rajib went beyond the fencing to see their lemon garden raised within the Indian territory at East Kaurangicherra on Sunday morning. While three villagers returned home by evening, Gurupada and Rajib did not come back till night.
Later, it was reported that Gurupada and Rajib were detained by BGB jawans for illegally entering Bangladesh soil and taken to Srimangal police station on the same day.
However, villagers say the lemon garden was raised within the Indian soil even if it falls beyond the barbed wire fencing and the BSF had given permission to go there. “The BGB had illegally kidnapped our men from Indian soil at the behest of some Bangladeshi people. We want our people to return home safely”, said an angry villager today.
Border villagers are frustrated by the activities of a section of Bangladeshi villagers in the Indian soil beyond the fencing. They often take away crops from the farm land in spite of the fact that the BSF has to keep close eye on the development outside the fencing. Now, it is to be seen what steps the BSF authority takes to ensure safe return of two villagers.
