New Delhi dismisses Dhaka’s protest over Tripura killings, says Bangladeshi smugglers attacked villagers first
India has rejected Bangladesh's protest over the killing of three Bangladeshi smugglers in Tripura, asserting that they were involved in cattle theft and had attacked villagers inside Indian territory.
New Delhi: India on Friday rejected Bangladesh’s claims of wrongdoing after three Bangladeshi nationals were killed in Tripura on October 15. The deaths have triggered a diplomatic dispute, with Dhaka demanding a fair probe and describing the incident as a "grave violation of human rights.”
India rejects Dhaka’s claims
According to the Bangladeshi foreign ministry, the victims were "illegal immigrants” who crossed the International Border but were allegedly killed in what Dhaka termed a "heinous” and "unacceptable” act. It called on India to ensure an "immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation” into the matter.
India, however, dismissed the accusations, clarifying that the episode took place three kilometres inside Indian territory. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Bangladeshis were part of a group attempting to steal cattle from Bidyabil village in Tripura. When confronted by local residents, the intruders attacked them with sharp weapons, resulting in the death of one villager.
"They attacked and injured local villagers with iron dahs and knives, and killed one villager, even as other villagers arrived and resisted the attackers. Authorities rushed to the spot, where two smugglers were found dead; a third succumbed to his injuries in hospital the following day,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated.
Dhaka seeks preventive action
MEA spokesperson Randheer Jaiswal confirmed that all three bodies had been handed over to Bangladeshi authorities. Meanwhile, Dhaka urged New Delhi to take preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future. "The Government of Bangladesh underscores that all individuals, irrespective of their nationality, are entitled to the full protection of their human rights, regardless of which side of the border they may inadvertently find themselves in,” the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry said.