12 Rohingya Muslims Stopped From Attempting to Enter Tripura

The BSF said it had thwarted the attempt of 12 Rohingya Muslims to enter Indian territory from Bangladesh.

Tens of thousands of Muslim Rohingya have fled mostly Buddhist Myanmar since 2012. Image used for representative purposes.

(Photo: Reuters)

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday, 20 June, said the force has thwarted the attempt of at least 12 Rohingya Muslims to enter Indian territory through Tripura from Bangladesh.

Two men, five women and as many children had tried to enter Sipahijala district, about 50 km from Tripura.

“Our troops thwarted their attempts to enter into our territory through Futia village in the international border on Thursday. We have successfully prevented their entry. They are still on the zero line.”

General C L Belwa, BSF Deputy Inspector

A company commander-level flag meeting was held two days back on this with Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) which was followed by a battalion commander-level meeting, he said.

"We have seized biscuits and soft drinks from their (Rohingyas') possession, which were manufactured in Bangladesh. These were provided by the World Food Programme, at Cox's Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh," he said.

During the meeting on Thursday, the BGB accepted that Rohingyas came from the Bangladesh side and sought two days’ time for a final decision, Belwa said.

According to sources in the BSF and the police, over 250 Rohingya Muslims have been detained during the past one year from different parts of the Northeast, which shares a 2,000-km long border with the neighbouring country.