Tea Farmer Abducted Near India-Bangladesh Border, Held in Bangladesh: BSF Seeks Release
A 35-year-old tea farmer from West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district has been allegedly abducted by a group of Bangladeshi nationals, prompting urgent efforts by Indian authorities to secure his release. The incident occurred in Tasar Para village, located within 150 yards of the border fence near the Border Security Force's (BSF) Chaulhati outpost.
According to the farmer's family, Dipankar Gope was working in his tea garden when a group of about 20 men crossed into Indian territory and took him hostage. The family alleges that the group then carried him across the international border into Bangladesh's Panchagarh district and handed him over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
The abduction is believed to be in retaliation for the BSF's arrest of a Bangladeshi national on Thursday. Border guards had caught the man allegedly attempting to enter India by cutting the barbed wire fence near Chaulhati. The intruder, suspected to be linked to a cross-border smuggling network, was later handed over to local police.
A video circulating online shows Gope stating that he will be released only if India releases Tamiz Uddin, the arrested Bangladeshi intruder. In the video, BGB personnel are seen standing alongside villagers who are making the demand. However, the authenticity of the video could not be independently verified.
Officials believe Gope is currently in BGB custody. The BSF held a flag meeting with its Bangladeshi counterpart on Saturday evening to press for his release, but as of late Saturday night, the farmer had not been freed. Sources say the BSF remains in regular contact with the BGB and has urged the immediate and safe return of the Indian citizen.
The incident has alarmed residents of nearby border villages. Locals fear that if ordinary citizens working close to the border can be abducted in this manner, it raises serious questions about their safety and security. This episode also highlights the ongoing challenges along the India-Bangladesh border, where the BSF has been intensifying efforts to prevent smuggling and infiltration.
Authorities are continuing diplomatic and security channels to resolve the situation. The family of Dipankar Gope awaits his safe return, while border security agencies on both sides remain in communication to de-escalate tensions.
