The BSF has contacted the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Assam over the issue. | Representative picture of security forces.
The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday said the 443-km-long border between India and Bangladesh in Meghalaya is completely secure and denied claims of illegal entry by Bangladeshi nationals.
The paramilitary force issued a statement after media in the neighbouring country reported that Awami League leader Ishak Ali Khan Panna died of a heart attack while climbing a hill in Meghalaya’s Dawki in an attempt to flee his country. Dawki, in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills, is close to Bangladesh.
A BSF spokesperson told PTI, “There is no illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals into the Meghalaya Frontier BSF area of responsibility along the Indo-Bangla border. The story of Panna’s death that is doing the rounds is completely fabricated. Any attempt at illegal infiltration or activities that endanger the security of our country will be dealt with sternly.”
The BSF has increased vigilance along the border following the violence on August 5 in Bangladesh. They have successfully foiled several attempts at illegal border crossing and arrested those involved.
The BSF has contacted the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Assam regarding the matter. “The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission has confirmed that they have not received any official information regarding Panna’s death near the border area so far,” the BSF spokesperson added.
Local sources in Dawki, including villagers, deny claims that Panna died while climbing a hill in Meghalaya.
An elder from Dawki said, “If a Bangladeshi tried to enter India, our relatives across the border would have informed us and we would have passed on the information to the BSF and the police. There has been no such incident and several attempts by Bangladeshi nationals to cross the border have been foiled.”
Another source at the border claimed that Panna died about 400 metres from the international border, well inside Bangladeshi territory.
The source added that Panna was travelling with a few people he trusted and was close to the Bangladesh border when he was attacked.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been edited by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First publication: Aug 26, 2024 | 7:51 PM IST