Villagers ‘resisted’ smugglers from Bangladesh, says MEA after Dhaka condemns death of Bangladesh citizens in Tripura
The incident highlights the need for Bangladesh to “take necessary measures to protect the sanctity of the international border,” according to a statement by the MEA on October 17, 2025. File | Photo Credit: PTI
Three Bangladeshi nationals who died in Tripura in the early hours of Wednesday morning (October 15, 2025) crossed the international border with a plan to smuggle cattle and attacked locals who were “resisting” the intruders, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday, October 17, 2025. India’s response to the violence came after Bangladesh strongly condemned the killings, which they said were the result of a “gang attack”.
MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Authorities rushed to the spot and two smugglers were found dead; the third succumbed to his injuries in the hospital the next day. The dead remains of all the three were handed over to the Bangladesh side. Police also registered a case.”
Mr Jaiswal said the incident took place in Bidyabil village in northern Tripura, about three kilometers inside Indian territory. He said smugglers attacked and injured local villagers with irons. dao (machete) and knives and killed a villager while other villagers came and resisted the attackers.
Mr Jaiswal said the incident highlighted the need for Bangladesh to “take necessary measures to protect the sanctity of the international border and support the construction of fencing where necessary to prevent cross-border crimes and smuggling”.
Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident and said, “This heinous act is unacceptable and a gross violation of human rights and the rule of law.” The Bangladesh government called the incident a “deplorable incident” and called for an “immediate, impartial and transparent investigation”.
Deaths of alleged cattle smugglers on the India-Bangladesh border remain a major problem that has not abated despite the two sides ratifying the 2015 Land Boundary Agreement.
Dainik Sambad, A newspaper in Tripura reported that attacks by Bangladesh on the Bidyabil region have increased in recent weeks and the issue was being discussed between the Indian Border Security Force and Bangladesh Border Guards.
It was published – 17 October 2025 22:19 IST
