Eighteen people have been arrested in connection with the November 2 assault on BSF personnel in Ashabari village in the Sepahijala district of Tripura, where suspected ganja smugglers allegedly attacked a security team.
At A Glance:
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Police have arrested 18 people, including three women, over the November 2 attack on BSF personnel at Ashabari village in Sepahijala district.
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Three BSF personnel, including a Company Commander, suffered serious injuries when a mob allegedly attacked them during an operation against ganja smuggling.
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Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha reviewed the incident with senior security officials and ordered stringent legal action and stronger border security measures.
Police have arrested eight more people in connection with the November 2 attack on Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at Ashabari village in Sepahijala district. The latest arrests have taken the total number of accused in the case to 18, including three women.
| Earlier Report: Tripura BSF Attack: 10 Accused Villagers Including 3 Women Arrested |
A senior police official confirmed the fresh arrests on Friday (November 6). Police apprehended the eight accused from different locations across Sepahijala district on Thursday night and during the early hours of Friday.
The incident occurred under Kalamchaura police station, close to the India-Bangladesh international border. BSF personnel had intercepted a group of suspected smugglers allegedly attempting to transport ganja across the border when the confrontation broke out.
Police Continue Manhunt for Remaining Accused
Police launched an intensive search operation immediately after the November 2 assault. The operation remains underway to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects.
A senior police official said the latest arrests followed searches at different locations in the district. The authorities are continuing their efforts to track down everyone allegedly involved in the attack.
Police have booked all 18 accused under various provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
The eight newly arrested persons will be produced before a local court in Sepahijala district at the earliest.
Earlier, police had produced the first 10 accused before the court. Following judicial directions, the male accused were remanded to police custody, while the women were sent to judicial custody.
Dr Manik Saha Directs Strict Action
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha chaired a high-level meeting with senior security officials on Thursday night to review the Ashabari attack and assess the overall law and order situation.
The Chief Minister had strongly condemned the incident and directed the authorities to take stringent action against those responsible.
In a post on X, Dr Saha said he chaired the meeting at the TIFT Conference Hall in Agartala. Senior officials from the state administration, police, BSF, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Assam Rifles attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the circumstances surrounding the Ashabari incident and discussed measures to strengthen security.
Dr Saha instructed the authorities to ensure strict legal action against those involved. He also called for zero tolerance towards cross-border smuggling and stronger security arrangements to maintain peace and law and order.
Three BSF Personnel Injured in Mob Attack
According to police, the violence erupted on November 2 after BSF personnel intercepted a group of suspected smugglers allegedly attempting to smuggle ganja (cannabis) across the India-Bangladesh international border.
Following the interception, around 50 men and women reportedly surrounded the BSF team and launched an attack.
The assault left three BSF personnel seriously injured, including a Company Commander.
The attackers allegedly snatched a pump-action gun (PAG) from one of the BSF personnel during the confrontation. They also damaged a BSF vehicle.
One of the alleged attackers sustained injuries in the incident.
The attack has raised fresh concerns over the security challenges faced by border personnel while tackling suspected smuggling activities in the district.
Earlier Fatal Attacks on Security Personnel
Sepahijala district has witnessed several incidents of violence against BSF and other law-enforcement personnel allegedly linked to cross-border smuggling networks.
On October 16, 2017, a vehicle suspected of involvement in smuggling operations ran over Deepak Kumar Mandal, Deputy Commandant of the BSF’s 145th Battalion, at Balerdepha in the Sonamura subdivision.
Mandal, a resident of West Bengal, sustained critical injuries and died on October 20, 2017.
In another incident, Tripura Police Sub-Inspector Durga Kumar Hrangkhawl lost his life while on duty on November 21, 2019. A vehicle allegedly operated by cross-border smuggling networks deliberately ran him over in the same district.
These incidents underline the serious threats faced by security and law-enforcement personnel while confronting organised smuggling activities along the international border.
Tripura Shares 856-km Border with Bangladesh
Tripura shares an 856-km-long international boundary with Bangladesh. The neighbouring country surrounds the state on three sides, making border management a significant security concern.
The state’s geographical location exposes it to cross-border smuggling, illegal movement and other transnational criminal activities.
Authorities have fenced most sections of the international boundary, except for a few stretches. The fencing aims to prevent smuggling, restrict illegal crossings and check the movement of criminals and other hostile elements.
The latest attack at Ashabari has once again highlighted the risks confronting security personnel during anti-smuggling operations along the international border of the State. (Edited by Enewstime Desk)