Shillong, Aug 4 (IANS): A court in Bangladesh on Tuesday remanded to judicial custody an Indian farmer charged with entering the country illegaly, an officer of India's Border Security Force (BSF) said, alleging that the farmer had been abducted by Bangladeshi nationals.
"A court in Bangladesh's Sylhet district remanded Demi Dhar to judicial custody till August 16," BSF spokesman Ravi Gandhi told IANS. The Indian farmer is facing charges of entering Bangladesh illegally, which the BSF has rubbished.
On July 28, Bangladeshi nationals abducted 21-year-old Demi Dhar from Rongkhum, a disputed area along the international border in Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills district. Rongkhum is 25 km east of Pyrdiwah village, which was occupied for several days in 2001 by the BDR - which claimed it to be a part of Bangladesh - before it retreated.
"The charges levelled by Bangladeshi police against Dhar are not true at all. We are in constant touch with the Bangladesh Rifles to secure his release," Gandhi said.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said he has taken up the matter with the central government to urge the Bangladesh government to facilitate the youth's safe release.
On Tuesday, several NGOs under the banner of Coordination Committee on International Border asked Sangma to take up the matter with the Union Home Ministry.
Meghalaya, which shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, witnessed several incidents of 'unprovoked firing' by the BDR June 15, said BSF officials.
