The troops of the 146th Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) South Bengal Frontier in an intelligently planned and meticulously executed operation along the India-Bangladesh International Border in the districts of Nadia and Murshidabad, West Bengal succeeded in nabbing 07 Bangladeshi nationals and three (03) Indian touts. This operation was based on reliable and confidential intelligence and successful apprehension 03 Indian Touts is seen as a big achievement. The vigilant BSF personnel demonstrated exceptional bravery and tactical expertise during this operation.
On the morning of February 6, around 5 AM, a patrolling party of the 146th Battalion performing the duty in the AOR of Border Outpost Jalangi spotted 6-7 infiltrators attempting to cross into Bangladesh from India side. Acting swiftly, the BSF troops managed to apprehend two of them, while the others took advantage of darkness and fog to retreat into Indian territory. Upon receiving information about the incident, the Company Commander of Border Outpost Jalangi, along with additional troops, reached the spot and launched an extensive search operation. During the search, three bags were recovered from the place of incident , but no further trace of the other infiltrators was found.
Interrogation of the apprehended infiltrators revealed that both were Bangladeshi nationals, and they revealed about their five more Bangladeshi accomplices who had managed to escape earlier that morning. Further questioning disclosed that they were attempting to cross the border illegally with the help of a tout from the Indian border village of Madhubana. However, while crossing the border, the BSF troops successfully nabbed them. During the questioning a call received on a mobile phone recovered from the apprehended Bangladeshi nationals gave a new direction to this operation The call was from the tout who was facilitating their crossing. BSF personnel devised a swift strategy to trap the tout. One of the arrested Bangladeshi was instructed to communicate with the Tout and assured him that they were safe and hiding near the Customs Office in Jalangi. Thereafter the broker was deceived and called near the customs office in Jalangi and the BSF jawans already present there caught the tout. A mobile phone and a motorcycle were seized from the broker during the search. His capture added a crucial link to the ongoing operation.
Further interrogation of the apprehended tout led to valuable information about the five Bangladeshi nationals who had escaped earlier in the morning. Tout, disclosed that they were hiding in a banana plantation near Gopalpur Ghat. Acting on this intelligence, BSF troops launched another operation at around 9 AM on same day. This time, the personnel disguised themselves as civilians and reached the designated location using an auto-rickshaw and an ambulance, as per the planned strategy. The tout was instructed to call the hidden Bangladeshi nationals and convince them to come out, ensuring them that the situation was safe. As a result, all five individuals came out of hiding from the banana plantation and BSF troops immediately apprehended them.
Based on the information extracted from the seven arrested Bangladeshi nationals and the tout, two additional Indian touts involved in the same network were identified. It was also revealed that these touts were charging ₹7,000 per person for illegally crossing the border. Advancing the operation, BSF personnel once again employed intelligence and deception to trap these two brokers. The captured tout was asked to call the other two touts and reassure them that all Bangladeshi nationals were safe and ready to be transported across the border, in exchange for ₹7,000 per person. BSF personnel, disguised as Bangladeshi infiltrators, reached “Chichinia More” . The touts were convinced over the phone and after some time both of them arrived at the designated location. Based on the identification by the previously arrested tout, BSF parties in disguise swiftly apprehended them. During the arrest, one of the tout attempted to attack BSF personnel with a sharp Dah but was immediately overpowered by the troops.
This meticulously planned and executed operation was successfully concluded by approximately 12:45 PM. A total of 7 illegal Bangladeshi nationals and 3 Indian touts were apprehended. Additionally, 16 mobile phones, one motorcycle, Indian Rupees, Bangladeshi Taka, and currencies from Kenya and Indonesia were seized.
Speaking on the operation, the Public Relations Officer of BSF South Bengal Frontier lauded the efforts of BSF troops. This successful operation has given a significant blow to the network of infiltrators and brokers and will surely help in checking infiltration and exfiltration attempt
