B’desh nat’ls escape fearing persecution, try to seek refuge in India
Raiganj/Jalpaiguri: Many, especially belonging to the religious minority community, are leaving Bangladesh fearing persecution. While a 17-year-old girl was handed over to the police by the BSF at the Fatehpur Border Outpost in North Dinajpur, a 17-year-old boy was handed over to the police by BSF in Jalpaiguri district.
A 17-year-old girl, fearing persecution, attempted to cross into India from Bangladesh through a hume pipe under the barbed wire fencing at the Fatehpur Border Outpost in Chopra Police Station area of North Dinajpur district. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel of the 17 Battalion apprehended her on Tuesday night and handed her over to the police. The minor, a resident of Panchagarh district in Bangladesh, was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board in Karnajora, Raiganj, on Wednesday. Following court orders, she has been sent to Smriti Balika Awas, an observation home for minor girls, in Cooch Behar.
Police investigations revealed that the girl was on her way to her relative’s house in Belakoba, Jalpaiguri district, seeking refuge. Her relatives, who were summoned by the police, identified her and shared crucial details. The girl, reportedly a renowned singer and the only child of her parents, had been living under constant threat of abduction by extremists in Bangladesh. A devotee of ISKCON, she fled from her home to escape persecution and planned to seek shelter with her relatives in India. Her relatives also disclosed that the girl held a passport, but visa services between Bangladesh and India had been suspended. Additionally, she required urgent medical attention for an eye condition, which she hoped to receive in India. Jobby Thomas, Superintendent of Police of Islampur Police District, stated: “BSF officials handed over the minor girl to police. The girl was produced before the juvenile justice board at Karnojora, Raiganj.” Meanwhile, a Bangladeshi youth was apprehended by the BSF while attempting to cross the India-Bangladesh border in the Rajganj block of Jalpaiguri district. Personnel from the Tekravita Border Outpost detained the individual and handed him over to Jalpaiguri police.
He was produced before the Jalpaiguri court on Wednesday. According to police sources, the youth has been identified as Jiban Barman (21), a resident of Thakurgaon village in Rangpur district, Bangladesh. During initial questioning, Jiban claimed that he fled Bangladesh due to increasing violence by radical fundamentalist groups.
Jiban said: “Bangladesh is in turmoil due to the violence of radical fundamentalists. Many Hindu youths, including myself, have been forced to flee our homes in fear of our lives.
We sought refuge in Bengal for safety.” Jalpaiguri District Superintendent of Police Khandbahale Umesh Ganpath stated: “A specific case has been initiated and further investigations are underway.”
