New Delhi: Security along India’s eastern frontier has been stepped up following renewed political and social unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh, officials familiar with the matter said. Agencies are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any potential increase in cross-border infiltration, even as conditions along the boundary remain calm for now.
Sources indicated that additional vigilance is being maintained as a precautionary measure, particularly in sensitive stretches of the border in West Bengal. The heightened alert follows reports of an incident in Cooch Behar district where a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was allegedly taken away by cattle smugglers during an operation in the early hours of December 21.
While the BSF has not issued an official statement on the episode, preliminary accounts suggest that the jawan was attempting to foil smuggling activities when he was reportedly abducted by miscreants from across the border. He was later released the same day with the intervention of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Officials emphasised that the matter was resolved swiftly and did not escalate further.
Senior officers said coordination between Indian forces and their Bangladeshi counterparts remains strong. “There is constant communication with the BGB, and the situation is under control,” a security official said, adding that no extraordinary deployment has been ordered. Routine strengthening of patrols and manpower, however, is being carried out as part of standard border management practices.
The increased caution comes against the backdrop of recent unrest in Bangladesh, where protests have resurfaced following political upheaval earlier this year. Since the August 2024 uprising that resulted in the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, sporadic demonstrations with an anti-India tone have been reported. In recent days, these tensions have reportedly led to incidents of violence, including the killing of a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das.
Further concern was raised after clashes linked to the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi led to arson and stone-pelting, with one such incident targeting the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chattogram on December 18.
Indian security agencies said they are keeping a close watch on developments across the border while ensuring that law and order along the frontier remains intact.
