Border residents in Panchagarh detained an Indian national on Saturday in what they said was a retaliatory act following the alleged abduction of a 78-year-old Bangladeshi man by members of India’s Border Security Force (BSF).
The Indian national was identified as Dipankar Gop, 35, of the Rajganj area in India's Jalpaiguri district.
A flag meeting between company commanders of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF was held over the spike in tensions, but no resolution was reached.
According to locals, Gop was detained Saturday morning after he entered a sugarcane field on the Bangladeshi side near Sub-Pillar No. 12 of Main Pillar No. 742 at the Birajot border in Satmara Union of Sadar Upazila.
Locals alleged that Bangladeshi farmer Tamiz Uddin had gone to the Birajot border area on Wednesday morning (Aug. 5) to search for his missing cow. He was later allegedly picked up by members of BSF from the Chaulhati camp.
In retaliation, locals detained Gop after he allegedly entered Bangladesh from the Indian side while working at a tea garden near the border.
The border residents claimed that Gop was caught after attempting to enter a Bangladeshi village and crossing an embankment. They also said Gop would be handed over to the Indian authorities if reciprocated byTamiz Uddin's return to Bangladesh.