Malda: The Border Security Force (BSF) and its Bangladeshi counterpart, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), were locked in a standoff on Thursday after the BSF detained 20 alleged infiltrators and attempted to send them back across an unfenced stretch of the India-Bangladesh border.The incident occurred at Sukdevpur, under Baishnabnagar police station, where a 12-km stretch of the border remains unfenced. BSF personnel detained the group — 11 women, five men and four children — in the morning and attempted to push them back into Bangladesh, prompting the BGB to resist.Hundreds of villagers from the Bangladeshi side joined BGB personnel in blocking the move, while villagers on the Indian side were not permitted to approach the border.The standoff continued for several hours until a flag meeting was held between the two forces in the afternoon. The detained Bangladeshis were subsequently taken into BSF custody.BJP MP Khagen Murmu alleged that elements in Bangladesh were exploiting the unfenced border to push Rohingya refugees, Pakistani nationals or criminals into India. “They want to destabilise our country. Now, when our BSF catches them and tries to send them back to Bangladesh, they are refusing to accept them. This cannot be done. Our government is already informed,” he said.No official statement was issued by either force. BGB sources, however, claimed the BSF had attempted an illegal “push-back,” which they said had been foiled.Three holding centres have been set up in Malda district, currently housing more than 150 Bangladeshi nationals. Previous attempts to push back detainees have also triggered unrest along the border.
