West Bengal tea farmer allegedly abducted, taken to Bangladesh over BSF arrest
Dipankar Gope was allegedly taken across the border after BSF arrested a Bangladeshi intruder, with his family claiming the abduction was retaliatory
Tensions have risen along the India-Bangladesh border after a 35-year-old tea farmer from West Bengal's Jalpaiguri was allegedly abducted by Bangladeshi nationals in retaliation for the arrest of a Bangladeshi intruder by the Border Security Force (BSF) two days earlier.
Dipankar Gope was working in his tea garden in Tasar Para village, located within 150 yards of the border fence near the BSF's Chaulhati outpost, when a group of around 20 men allegedly took him hostage, according to his family.
The group reportedly then took Gope across the international border into Bangladesh's Panchagarh district and handed him over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), according to an NDTV report.
The incident followed the BSF's reported arrest last Thursday of a Bangladeshi man who allegedly tried to enter India after cutting through the barbed wire fence along the Chaulhati border. The man, suspected of links to a cross-border smuggling network, was handed over to the police.
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Gope's family has alleged that he was abducted in retaliation for the arrest. A video has also surfaced in which Gope can be heard saying that he would be released if India released Tamiz Uddin, the Bangladeshi intruder arrested by the BSF.
BGB personnel can be seen standing alongside villagers as the threat is made in the video. The authenticity of the footage could not be verified.
Meanwhile, Gope is believed to be in BGB custody. Following the incident, the BSF moved to secure his release and held a flag meeting with the BGB on Saturday evening. However, the farmer had not been released by Saturday night and was reportedly still in BGB custody.
According to sources, the BSF remains in regular contact with its Bangladeshi counterpart and has urged the BGB to ensure Gope's immediate and safe return to India.
The incident triggered panic in nearby border villages, with locals expressing concern that if ordinary citizens working near the border can be abducted in such a manner, it could raise serious questions about security in the area.