Border Security Force (BSF) personnel stationed at the Sunder Border Out Post (BOP) in Nadia district, West Bengal, faced a brutal attack by Bangladeshi miscreants on the night of June 10. The incident occurred in the area of responsibility of the 08 Battalion BSF, Sector Headquarters Krishnanagar, under the jurisdiction of Dhantala Police Station.
At approximately 22:45 hours, BSF Constable (General Duty) Gokul Mondal, who was on Hand Held Thermal Imager (HHTI) duty, detected the movement of six to seven miscreants in the depth area on the Indian side of the border. He responded swiftly and alerted the adjacent ambush and patrolling parties to maintain heightened vigilance.
At around 23:20 hours, another BSF Head Constable observed three to four miscreants crossing the Indo-Bangladesh Border Road (IBBR) from the Bangladesh side, having breached the improvised fence between Border Flood Light No. 17-18. Despite issuing multiple challenges to the miscreants to retreat, they ignored the warnings and continued their incursion into Indian territory. The Head Constable, adhering to the BSF’s non-lethal strategy, attempted to fire a Pump Action Gun (PAG) round in self-defence. Unfortunately, the weapon misfired, leaving him vulnerable.
Hearing the Head Constable’s shouts, Constable Gokul Mondal, stationed at the HHTI point, rushed to assist his colleague. He was approximately 20 meters ahead of the Head Constable while pursuing the miscreants, who had already advanced 450 meters inside Indian territory. Seising the opportunity, the Bangladeshi miscreants, encouraged by the BSF’s non-lethal strategy, launched a vicious attack on Mondal using sharp-edged weapons known as Dahs.
Mondal sustained grievous injuries to his lower hip, waist, and neck regions. The severity of the assault was such that his belt was severed, his uniform was torn, and his rifle guard and magazine were broken into pieces, scattering all rounds. Despite the imminent threat to his life, Mondal displayed extraordinary restraint, refraining from using his lethal weapon to uphold the BSF’s commitment to a non-lethal strategy aimed at maintaining peace along the border.
Following the attack, the critically injured Constable Mondal was evacuated to the nearest hospital. His condition remains critical. The information about the Bangladeshi miscreants involved in this brutal attack has been shared with the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB). A Commandant-level flag meeting has been scheduled with the Commanding Officer of the 58 Battalion BGB to address this grave incident.
The BSF spokesperson, Shri A K Arya, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Public Relations Officer of the South Bengal Frontier, strongly condemned the attack. He highlighted the recurring issue of Bangladeshi miscreants emboldened by the BSF’s non-lethal approach. Despite repeated protest notes to the BGB concerning illegal intrusions by Bangladeshi smugglers and miscreants, these incidents continue to occur. The spokesperson emphasized that BSF personnel remain vigilant and dedicated to guarding the border, often at great personal risk. Despite the non-lethal strategy, the increasing boldness and brutality of cross-border smugglers and criminals pose significant challenges.
The BSF’s non-lethal strategy aims to minimize fatalities and maintain peaceful border management. However, the safety and security of BSF personnel are paramount. The BSF continues to review and adapt its strategies to effectively counter the threats posed by cross-border criminal activities while striving to uphold peace and security along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
The incident has sparked concern and outrage among local communities and government officials. There are calls for reassessing the non-lethal strategy and ensuring the safety of BSF personnel while maintaining diplomatic relations with Bangladesh. The cooperation and mutual understanding of the BSF and BGB are crucial in addressing and mitigating such cross-border threats.
