Assam Fisherman Detained in Bangladesh on Drug, Arms Smuggling Charges
An Assam man missing since Thursday was detained by Bangladesh's BGB for illegal entry and alleged smuggling of drugs and arms.
A 35-year-old man from Assam's Sribhumi district, who was reported missing on Thursday, has been detained by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on charges of illegal entry and smuggling.
The man, identified as Balai Namasudra, is a resident of Gobindapur village in Sribhumi district. His wife, Mamata Namasudra, said he routinely went fishing near the border pillar. On Thursday morning, around 5:30 am, he left to collect fish from a net he had placed the previous evening and did not return.
Later that day, Mamata received a WhatsApp call from a person in Bangladesh who told her that Balai had been detained for illegally crossing the border. The caller requested photocopies of his voter ID, Aadhaar card, and passport, saying these documents were needed for his return after basic formalities. She shared the documents as requested.
According to the BGB, Namasudra was apprehended on August 27 in the Kumarshail border area under Barlekha upazila of Moulvibazar. During a special operation, BGB personnel recovered a foreign-made pistol, two rounds of .22-bore ammunition, and 500 Yaba tablets from his possession.
In Sribhumi, Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Trinayan Bhuyan said police received a missing complaint and began an investigation. Since the incident occurred beyond the border fencing, authorities coordinated with the Border Security Force (BSF).
Locals in Gobindapur village recalled that nearly eight years ago, another resident, Binanda Namasudra, was similarly detained by the BGB and spent about a year in Bangladesh before being released.