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CNN-News18 spoke to BSF personnel who have served in this belt of Sonamura, Sepahijala, who said the writ of the smugglers has been running in this area for years now
As the video of the assault went viral, questions were raised as to why the BSF personnel did not fire in self-defence. (ANI)
At least nine people, including three women, have been arrested by Tripura police for assaulting three BSF personnel. The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, including one Assistant Commandant rank officer, were repeatedly hit with lathis and their weapons were snatched. The entire incident was caught on camera.
But the rot might be running deeper than identified by police. CNN-News18 spoke to BSF personnel who have served in this belt of Sonamura, Sepahijala, who said the writ of the smugglers has been running in this area for years now.
50-60 KM NOTORIOUS STRETCH
A senior BSF man was killed in the same area a decade ago. In 2017, Deepak Kumar Mandal, Deputy Commandant of the 145th battalion, was killed by the smugglers in the same area. As per police investigation, in October 2017, Mandal was crushed under a vehicle at Balerdepha in the Sonamura subdivision of Sepahijala district. He had gone to the spot to prevent a smuggling attempt by cattle smugglers who had gathered on both sides of the border. The attempt was to take cover of darkness and smuggle cattle. Mandal, who had gone only with his driver, was hit from behind by a vehicle belonging to the smuggling gang. He was reportedly run over and succumbed to his head injuries.
“A 50-60 kilometre stretch along the fence from Kamlasagar to Belonia is notorious. Sonamura is the midpoint in this belt. The majority population here is that of Muslims. A number of small settlements, locally called para, have sprung up on the other side of the fence. After sundown, it is difficult to segregate who is a Bangladeshi and who is not. The smuggling network thrives because of these challenges,” a BSF official said on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the press.
BSF sources said that the assault incident also unfolded in BSF’s attempt to thwart smuggling. The 49th Battalion of BSF reportedly detained Hefazur Rehman for aiding smuggling of contraband. Locals alleged that Rehman was beaten up badly and he suffered a fracture. The villagers allegedly were enraged and set up a blockade into which the vehicle with the three BSF personnel drove.
“The personnel who were deployed noticed a parcel being hurled across the fence. It was caught on cameras deployed along the fence. When they reached the spot, a local suspect was taken into custody. The villagers wanted this local to be freed and attacked the vehicle carrying the company commander, his driver and a guard,” a BSF officer told CNN-News18.
SOP FOR BSF
As the video of the assault went viral, questions were raised as to why the BSF personnel did not fire in self-defence. Official sources said the SOP is clear — it gives the right to self-defence to each individual including those in uniform. “Proportional use of force is the only limitation on men and women in uniform. If your weapon is being snatched away, it is a grave crime for which steps must be taken. But only those on the ground in the thick of action can correctly judge when and how much force to use,” Nitin Agarwal, former DG of BSF, told CNN News18.
He added that the firing in the air to disperse a mob, firing below the knee to keep away a violent mob, are all part of the training, but often the risk of fatality also leads to a rethink before opening fire.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The confrontation occurred when BSF personnel attempted to thwart smuggling activities and detained a local suspect accused of aiding contraband smuggling, prompting an enraged mob to attack their vehicle.
Ask News18About the Author
Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from gr…Read More
November 03, 2026, 4:23 pm IST
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