Efforts of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Tripura Government two persons – one of them a terminated 10323 teacher returned to their native place at Khowai after languishing 10 months in Bangladesh jail.
In presence of relatives, Police and civil administration, Minister of Tripura Mevar Kumar Jamatia received them at Manu Land Custom area on India-Bangladesh international border checkpost in Kailasahar under Unakoti district.
The duo identified as Gurupada Debbarma, a former teacher and his brother Rajib debbarma was apprehended by the Border Guard of Bangladesh on February 27 this year. The brothers were farming on their land in Indian territory along the Tripura-Bangladesh border in Bidyabil area under Khowai District in Tripura.
Gurupada, one of the terminated 10323 teachers who lost jobs after a Court verdict, decided to start agriculture farming to earn a livelihood – however, he along with his brother was picked up the BGB personnel while working on their own farmland in the Indian territory.
According to the returnees, the BGB personnel at first took them to the Bangladesh territory and later apprehended them in the name of interrogation. After that they were put in Bangladesh jail.
The Debbarma brothers were subjected to harassment despite having legal permission to cultivate their own land along the border. As the reports of their detention by BGB came to fore, the State Government as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made relentless efforts to ensure their release from the Bangla jail.
After a long ten-month legal battle, they had finally returned to their home on Sunday.