Agartala, Nov 3 : Eight people have so far been arrested for allegedly attacking Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at Ashabari along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura's Sepahijala district, police officials said on Tuesday.
Three BSF personnel, including a Company Commander, were injured after a mob allegedly attacked them with sticks and bamboo near the international border under Kalamchaura police station on Monday, a senior police official said.
According to the official, BSF personnel noticed some Indian and Bangladeshi smugglers allegedly involved in illegal trade along the border and rushed to the spot to intercept them.
While the Bangladeshi smugglers fled to the other side of the border fence, the Indian suspect was apprehended. However, he managed to escape and allegedly informed villagers that he had been assaulted by BSF personnel, triggering the incident, the official said.
Following this, a large number of men and women gathered at the spot, surrounded a BSF vehicle and attacked the personnel, leaving three of them, including the Company Commander, injured.
The attackers also allegedly attempted to snatch the rifle of a BSF jawan and damaged a BSF vehicle. One of the attackers was also injured during the confrontation, the official said.
Senior BSF and police officials rushed to the area and brought the situation under control. However, tension continued to prevail in the border village.
Eight people allegedly involved in the attack have been arrested so far, while an intensive search operation is underway to apprehend the remaining accused, the police official said.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, strongly condemned the attack and said all those involved would be brought to justice.
"In connection with the assault on BSF personnel at Ashabari, Boxanagar, eight accused persons have been arrested. All those involved will be brought to justice, and strict legal action will be taken against them in accordance with the law. Violence against our security personnel will not be tolerated," Saha said in a post on X.
In another post, the chief minister described the incident as a brutal assault on security personnel and directed the concerned authorities to take swift and stringent action against those responsible.
Tripura shares an 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh and is surrounded by the neighbouring country on three sides, making it vulnerable to cross-border smuggling, illegal migration and other trans-border activities.
Except for certain stretches, most of the international border has been fenced to prevent smuggling, infiltration and other cross-border crimes.
