The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified on Friday that the three Bangladeshi nationals killed in a border incident in Tripura were armed smugglers who had entered Indian territory illegally. According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the intruders not only attacked villagers but also caused the death of one local resident. The incident took place on October 15, 2025, around 3 kilometers within India, near Bidyabil village.
The smugglers attempted to steal cattle from the village. When villagers intervened, the assailants attacked them with knives and iron dahs, fatally wounding one villager. Indian authorities reached the location where two smugglers were found dead. The third smuggler died from his injuries later. All deceased have been handed over to the Bangladeshi authorities, and a formal police investigation is underway.
The MEA stressed the critical importance of cross-border collaboration to prevent such incidents. The ministry urged Bangladesh to reinforce measures to protect the international boundary’s sanctity and support fencing initiatives aimed at halting smuggling and other illegal activities.
In response to India’s statement, the Bangladeshi government lodged a strong protest, denouncing the killings as a severe human rights violation and demanding an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.