Published on: October 17, 2025 | 5:12 PM IST

India on Friday stated that three Bangladeshi nationals who crossed into Tripura and attempted to steal cattle died during an altercation with villagers, rejecting Dhaka’s claim that the men were lynched by a mob. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the two neighbors over border security and cross-border crimes, including what Bangladesh has described as “border killings.”

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Incident Details

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal provided details of the incident, which occurred on October 15, about three kilometers inside Indian territory. According to the ministry, a group of three Bangladeshi smugglers crossed the border and attempted to steal cattle from Bidyabil village.

“They attacked and injured local villagers with iron dahs and knives, and killed one villager, even as other villagers arrived and resisted the attackers,” Jaiswal said.

Authorities arriving at the scene found two of the smugglers dead, while the third succumbed to injuries in the hospital the following day. Their mortal remains have since been handed over to the Bangladeshi authorities, and the police have registered a case related to the incident.

Jaiswal emphasized the need for Bangladesh to support the construction of border fencing and take measures to prevent such cross-border crimes, stating that these incidents underscore the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the international boundary.

India has already fenced approximately 3,000 kilometers of the 4,096-kilometer land boundary with Bangladesh. The Indian government has long maintained that opposition from Dhaka to fencing the remaining stretches has allowed criminal elements to cross over and commit acts of theft, smuggling, and violence.

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Bangladesh’s Response

The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested the incident, condemning what it described as the “brutal beating and killing of three Bangladeshi citizens by a mob in Tripura.”

In a statement, Dhaka labeled the act “an unacceptable and grave violation of human rights and the rule of law” and called on India to conduct an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation to bring those responsible to justice.

The incident has intensified scrutiny of India-Bangladesh border issues, especially in the context of cross-border smuggling, cattle trafficking, and illegal human and arms movements.

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Context of India-Bangladesh Relations

The development occurs against the backdrop of strained bilateral relations following the assumption of office by the interim Bangladeshi government led by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus in August 2024. Since then, both sides have traded accusations over multiple issues, including border killings and smuggling.

India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri, in discussions with Bangladeshi journalists, reiterated that such incidents generally occur inside Indian territory after criminal elements illegally cross the border.

“The first place to deal with these is to deal with them upstream, in a sense to prevent illegal border crossings. If there are no illegal border crossings, there will be no border killings,” Misri said.

This underscores India’s position that measures such as border fencing and stricter surveillance are essential to prevent cross-border crimes and protect local communities.

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Security Measures and Border Management

India has long emphasized the importance of border security and has implemented measures including:

• Construction of border fences along vulnerable stretches.
• Deployment of additional border security forces to monitor and prevent illegal crossings.
• Coordination with local law enforcement to respond to incidents promptly.

The recent deaths have once again highlighted the risks faced by villagers in border areas due to illegal smuggling and cross-border criminal activities.

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Moving Forward

While Bangladesh has demanded accountability and a transparent investigation, India has stressed that these deaths were a direct result of aggressive actions by smugglers and occurred entirely on Indian soil. The two sides are expected to continue discussions to reduce tensions, enhance border management cooperation, and address smuggling and cattle theft, which remain persistent challenges in northeastern India.

The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance in India-Bangladesh relations, particularly regarding border security, human rights concerns, and cross-border law enforcement. Both governments face the challenge of ensuring safety for border communities while respecting international protocols and bilateral commitments.