In view of the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections to be held in the country on May 13, BSF South Bengal Frontier foiled 02 big infiltration attempts of illegal Bangladeshis due to strict vigil on the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal. The Jawans of 68 Battalion, BSF deployed in the border area of North 24 Parganas district, foiled the plan by driving back a group of Bangladeshi infiltrators from Bangladesh to India on 11/12 May 2024, just a day before the fourth phase of voting.
According to the information, this incident took place in the area of border outpost Ranghat, 68 Battalion. On the night of 11 and 12 May, big illegal infiltration attempts were made twice from Bangladesh into India in the area of border outpost Ranghat. The first incident took place on 11 May 2024. BSF jawans received information from reliable sources about infiltration attempt from Bangladesh side. On the basis of this, the jawans deployed on the border were specially alerted. At around 2315 hours, the jawans saw a group of 18 to 20 people coming from the Bangladesh side towards India in Kodalia river flowing along the International Border. As soon as they crossed the river, the BSF jawans challenged them to turn back but all the infiltrators ignored the warning of the jawans and continued to move forward. BSF jawans threw a stun grenade to stop the infiltration, but when the infiltrators did not stop, the Jawans fired non-lethal weapons in the air.
As soon as they heard the sound of fire, all the infiltrators ran back towards Bangladesh.
Again the second incident took place on the morning of 12 May 2024. When the jawans of border outpost Ranghat were more alert after foiling the first infiltration attempt. At about 0340 hours, the jawans again saw that a group of 15 to 16 people was trying to cross the Kodalia River from Bangladesh to India. The Jawans had also warned them to return, but the Jawans’s warning did not affect this group, so the Jawans had to resort to use of non-lethal weapons to stop infiltration in large numbers. As soon as the Jawans opened fire, all the infiltrators fled back to Bangladesh to save their lives.
In both incidents, the infiltrators did not succeed due to the alertness of the BSF Jawans. There was no loss of life or property in the fire fired by the Jawans.
Public Relations Officer of BSF, South Bengal Frontier, A.K Arya, DIG said that a big attemt of infiltration from Bangladesh side just before the elections has been foiled by the BSF jawans with great bravery. In this regard, a flag meeting will be held with the border guard Bangladesh deployed in front of us and a strong protest note will also be given regarding this incident.Arya further said that BSF will not allow infiltration into India under any circumstances.
*Source- BSF*
*Report- Pratyusha Mukherjee*
