A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was abducted and taken deep into Bangladeshi territory by a gang of cattle smugglers in a dramatic incident along the porous West Bengal border. The event unfolded early on Sunday, highlighting the persistent challenges of policing the complex frontier.
The Chase and Capture in Heavy Fog
The incident occurred near the strategically sensitive Teen Bigha Corridor under Kuchlibari Police Station in Cooch Behar's Mekhliganj area. BSF jawan Bed Prakash, who was posted at the Arjun Border Outpost (BOP), spotted a group of 10-12 cattle smugglers attempting to cross the border. He immediately gave chase.
His fellow jawans were some distance behind him at that moment. As Prakash pursued the smugglers, they fled towards the Angarpota Dahagram enclave. Due to heavy fog obscuring the landscape, the jawan was unable to determine the exact line of the international border and inadvertently entered Bangladeshi territory.
Once inside Bangladesh, the smugglers turned on the lone jawan. Significantly outnumbered, Prakash was captured by the gang. Disturbingly, local accounts from the area claim that personnel from the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) of the 51 Battalion stationed at Angarpota Dahagram allegedly assisted the smugglers in apprehending the BSF soldier.
Diplomatic Efforts and Denials
Following the abduction, BSF officials engaged in a series of flag meetings with their BGB counterparts at Teen Bigha throughout Sunday. Despite these urgent diplomatic efforts, they could not secure the jawan's release by the end of the day.
A senior Bengal police officer involved in the situation stated, "The meetings are still on. Nothing can be said now." Complicating the matter, reports indicate that Bangladeshi forces are denying that a BSF jawan is being held within their territory. Mekhliganj Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ashis P Subba confirmed authorities are aware of the incident and have advised residents in border villages to remain vigilant.
The Complex Terrain of Teen Bigha Corridor
This incident brings renewed focus on the unique and complicated geography of the Teen Bigha Corridor. This narrow strip of Indian land is situated within Bangladeshi territory and serves as a permanent access route for Bangladesh to its Dahagram-Angarpota enclave. The corridor allows Bangladeshi citizens and vehicles to pass through Indian land without visa requirements, connecting the otherwise landlocked enclave to the Bangladeshi mainland.
The status of this area has long been a point of contention. It may be recalled that during the historic August 2015 exchange of enclaves under the Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, the Angarpota Dahagram enclave was left out of the swap. This decision was opposed by many locals in Mekhliganj at the time, who argued for its inclusion in the exchange.
Residents have frequently expressed concerns about the enclave being misused. "This enclave has always been used for carrying out illegal activities," a local from the Mekhliganj area remarked, echoing sentiments that such geographically complex zones pose significant security challenges for border guarding forces.
