Our Bureau
GUWAHATI/DHUBRI: The deportation of Bangladeshi nationals to the neighbouring country triggered tension on the Indo-Bangladesh border in the Thakurbari area in Mankachar today.
According to sources, personnel of the Bangladesh Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) had a hot exchange of words with the BSF (Border Security Force) personnel when the latter were trying to push back 14 Bangladeshis into the no-man's land area of the international border. The BGB personnel even crossed the zero line area, considered an international sensitive zone meant to remain neutral. This is not all. A section of Bangladeshi nationals also came forward supporting the BGB's intervention.
Though the BSF stopped short of confirming Bangladesh nationals coming in to support BGB personnel, the border security force said in a statement, "In the early hours of May 27, vigilant BSF troops deployed at the Indo-Bangladesh border in the district of South Salmara-Mankachar observed suspicious movement of Bangladesh nationals approaching toward the international boundary from the Bangladesh side with an intention to cross into the Indian territory. Acting swiftly, the BSF troop challenged them to prevent their unauthorized entry into the Indian territory. The Bangladeshi mob subsequently retreated back to Bangladesh."
According to sources, South Salmara district authorities confirmed the tension in the bordering area in the district regarding the pushback of Bangladeshi nationals. The local administration is looking into the matter. A flag meeting between the BSF and BGB is also likely to be held on Wednesday regarding this issue.
A few days ago, the authorities concerned in Bangladesh had already lodged a complaint with the government of India stating that they would not accept any people 'tagged as Bangladeshis' without verification of their citizenship status. They said that the BGB would give a befitting reply to the BSF if the latter make any attempt to push back any people tagging them as Bangladeshis without verification.
Of late, following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), pushback of Bangladeshis is going on all over the country. In Assam, the police pick up suspected Bangladeshi nationals and grill them, besides examining their documents.
The Assam government informed the Assembly in March this year that over 84,000 people declared foreigners by FTs have been absconding for decades. The moot question, however, is how the state machinery will catch these absconding Bangladeshis. This continues to remain an open question. It will not be surprising if the majority of these declared Bangladeshis get Indian citizenship through the manipulation of documents like ration cards, Aadhaar cards and voter cards. This precarious situation could have been averted had there been a provision for instant deportation of declared Bangladeshis.
On the other hand, Bangladshi social media engaged in spreading false propaganda accused the BSF and claimed that these 14 individuals sent back by India are not citizens of Bangladesh
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