Agartala: People of a village in the Sepahijala district of Tripura near India-Bangladesh border said that Border Security Force (BSF) personnel forcibly took away their motorcycles, The Indian Express reported.
“We were asked to stay inside. We don’t know why the BSF took away these motorcycles,’a local who did not wish to be named, reportedly said.
Locals said that a group of 10 to 15 BSF soldiers belonging to Boxanagar Border Outpost (BOP) took away at least five motorbikes.
Five youths who came to attend a social event had parked their motorcycles on a private property, according to the report.
Following the incident, a BSF PRO stated that Boxangar in Sepahijala district is notorious for smuggling, infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas.
The official added that ‘Of late, it has been observed that the smuggling of sugar from India to Bangladesh has increased manifold. During this year, 5,20,625 kgs of sugar have been seized by BSF in different operations and at different locations.’
The PRO explained that a section of smugglers, when challenged by BSF troops on duty, left the motorcycles along with sugar bags near the border.
The five motorcyclists lodged a complaint at Kalamchoura Police Station on Saturday.
One of the youths claimed that they had come to attend an event when the BSF took away their motorbikes adding that they did not know they had done it.
A senior official from Tripura Police Headquarters reportedly said an FIR was yet to be registered on the youth’s complaint and the police were discussing the matter with the BSF.