‘Suspected smugglers left motorcycles’, says BSF after Tripura villagers allege vehicles ‘forcibly’ taken away

The guests had parked their motorbikes on private property. However, a group of 10 to 15 BSF jawans, whom the motorcycle owners later identified to be personnel from Boxanagar Border Outpost (BOP), came and allegedly took away at least five motorbikes.

“We were asked to stay inside. We don’t know why the BSF took away these motorcycles,” a local, who did not wish to be named, told media persons.

BSF’s reaction

Reacting to the issue, a BSF PRO said in a statement, “Boxanagar is located on the Indo-Bangladesh border in Sepahijala district and is notorious for smuggling, infiltration of Bangladeshi national and Rohingyas. Of late, it has been observed that the smuggling of sugar from India to Bangladesh has increased manifold. During this year, 5,20,625 kgs of sugar have been seized by BSF in different operations and at different locations”.

Sharing details of the incident at Sepahijala district, where the motorcycles of the villagers were allegedly taken away by the BSF jawans, the PRO explained that it was a section of suspected smugglers who left the motorcycles along with sugar bags near the India-Bangladesh border when challenged by BSF troops on duty in the area.

Police complaint filed

The five motorcyclists later filed a complaint at Kalamchoura Police Station on Saturday.

“We came to attend a program. But we don’t know why the BSF took away our motorbikes. We filed a complaint at the police station demanding that our motorcycles be returned,” said one of the youths.

When contacted, a senior official from Tripura Police Headquarters said, “A complaint was filed by these youths, but an FIR is yet to be registered. The police are discussing the matter with the BSF.”

Tripura has an 856 km-long international border with Bangladesh, parts of which are still unfenced owing to local disputes.