New Delhi. The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday said it has lodged a “strong protest” with its Bangladeshi counterpart BGB over the fact that its jawan was “abducted” by “mischievous elements” from the neighbouring country while patrolling the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal. The statement said that after a “flag meeting” between the two sides, the jawan was handed back by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
The jawan was kidnapped by a group of 15-20 “Bangladeshi miscreants” when he was on a routine patrol near the Biral border in Dinajpur area of West Bengal. A BSF statement said, “The miscreants entered Indian territory and forcibly took the BSF jawan to Bangladesh and he was kept in the custody of BGB.” The BSF said that regarding this “dangerous” situation, the Inspector General of North Bengal Frontier of BSF “immediately contacted the Regional Commander of the North West Region of BGB and demanded the immediate release of the kidnapped jawan.” The headquarters of the North Bengal Frontier of BSF is located in Siliguri.
The BSF said it “condemned this aggressive act and lodged a formal protest against the actions of the miscreants from Bangladesh.” It said the BSF “emphasized the importance of maintaining peaceful relations along the border and urged the BGB to instruct its citizens to refrain from such unlawful activities.” The BSF said, “The BSF is committed to its policy of ‘zero firing’ along the border and seeks cooperation from the BGB to ensure the safety of all.”
The BSF said it “worked proactively to ensure the safe return of its personnel and the BGB returned the jawan after a meeting between the sector commanders.” India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-km border, which is guarded by the BSF and the BGB respectively, and Indian forces have been on high alert since the Sheikh Hasina government ousted power in Dhaka on August 5.