Local finds suspected Bangladesh drone in Tripura

Agartala: Near the Bangladesh border in Tripura’s South Tripura district, a local found a drone, suspected to have come from the Bangladesh border, on Monday. According to the Belonia Police, the drone was found 300-350 metres away from the barbed wire fencing at Ballamukha village, The Indian Express reported.

Following this, a police team reached the area and started an investigation into the origin of the drone, the purpose of the flight, etc.

A senior police officer informed that a police team was dispatched immediately after they received information about the drone. Police seized the drone, and it is currently in custody at the Belonia police station. They are going to initiate a forensic examination of the drone to know its last flight path. However, so far, the officer said the police have not confirmed its origin.

TIE notes that Tripura shares an 856 km international border with Bangladesh, including a land-based and riverine border, most of which is covered with barbed wire fences, except for a few patches that are still unfenced due to local disputes. It was only 20 years ago that barbed wire fencing was started as per the Indira-Mujib Treaty of 1972.

March first week this year witnessed BSF troops stopping several smuggling attempts and seized a huge quantity of cattle, rice, narcotics, and other contraband items worth Rs. 2.88 crore, according to TIE. The Indian force ran a series of 61 simultaneous operations and coordinated patrols to prevent smuggling and other crimes along the border.

Since August last year, security forces stopped infiltration and illegal entry of Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals and arrested several foreign nationals. This was after the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in Bangladesh.