The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday (August 21) detained a jawan of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after he allegedly crossed into Indian territory in Tripura’s Sepahijala district.

According to BSF sources, the uniformed personnel was apprehended near the Kamthana Border Out Post (BOP) in Sepahijala and was found carrying ammunition at the time of his detention, The Indian Express reported.

On the Bangladesh side, the BGB operates the Madla BOP in the Kasba Brahmanbaria area, opposite West Tripura district.

“We suspect he entered with ill intentions in the area, though he has been claiming he was chasing smugglers. He is under BSF custody and is being questioned,” a senior BSF official told the paper.

While the jawan’s identity has not yet been disclosed, sources confirmed that he is attached to the 60 BGB battalion, which is responsible for guarding the sector across the border.

Tripura shares an 856 km-long international border with Bangladesh, a significant portion of which remains unfenced due to local disputes.

Unlike many other parts of India’s international frontiers, Tripura does not have a no-man’s land along most stretches. Instead, the boundary runs along the zero line, with fencing constructed about 150 yards inside Indian territory. This unique arrangement means many Indian villagers have agricultural lands beyond the fence, and they regularly cross the gates with BSF permission to tend to their fields.

Currently, Tripura has one operational Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Agartala, while another is under construction at Sabroom in South Tripura. The incident has added a fresh layer of tension to the sensitive border zone, even as questioning of the detained BGB jawan continues.