Overview
- Local witnesses say 77‑year‑old Ranjit Das was seized from Indian territory beyond the border fence on Tuesday morning after a group crossed from the Bangladesh side by boat.
- The Border Security Force alerted the Border Guard Bangladesh and held multiple flag meetings that led to Das being handed over to Indian authorities late Tuesday night at a Bhanga outpost.
- Das arrived with visible injuries and a bandaged head and told officials he was beaten with rods while held across the border, but specific details and the attackers’ motive remain unverified.
- Assam police and BSF escorted Das for medical checks and opened an inquiry while local leaders pushed New Delhi and state authorities to press for answers and stronger protections.
- The case underscores the risks posed by the ‘zero line’ or no‑man’s land—Indian strips accessed through BSF gates for farming—and could prompt tighter border safeguards and renewed bilateral coordination.