New Delhi: A standoff continued at the India-Bangladesh border in Assam’s Mankachar sector on Monday, with nine Bangladeshi nationals stranded in the no-man’s land between the two countries after the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) allegedly refused to accept them.
According to sources, the individuals have been stuck in the area separating the two countries for more than a day, prompting heightened tension along the border. Officials said a flag meeting was held between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the BGB in an attempt to resolve the issue, but no breakthrough was achieved.
BSF sources said another round of talks is expected to take place later in the day.
The situation first came to light on Sunday when the nine individuals were found stranded in the no-man’s land near Mankachar. Videos circulating on social media showed them expressing uncertainty over their future, with some seen crying.
In one of the videos, a man claiming to be among the stranded group said they were Bangladeshi citizens who had come to India in search of work. “We have documents to prove we are from Bangladesh. Even if we are killed and dumped in a river, we will not go to India,” he is heard saying.
The incident comes amid intensified efforts by Indian authorities to curb illegal infiltration along the India-Bangladesh border. According to officials, the BSF recently pushed back several Bangladeshi nationals attempting to cross into India.
Over the past week, Assam Police and the BSF have jointly prevented 21 alleged infiltrators from entering the country.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the security forces for their vigilance, stating that Assam’s multi-pronged strategy to secure its borders remains firmly in place.
“Safeguarding borders, strengthening security. In an excellent joint effort by Assam Police and BSF, 21 infiltrators were swiftly identified and prevented from entering India. Our multi-pronged approach of safeguarding our border continues,” Sarma wrote in a post on X.
He has repeatedly stressed the need to keep Assam free from illegal infiltration and called for stronger border management in neighbouring states that share international boundaries.
