The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday reacted to the killing of three Bangladeshi nationals in a clash with Indian villagers after the former crossed the border illegally, saying that the neighbouring country should undertake necessary measures to uphold the sanctity of the International Boundary.
While responding to queries over the incident, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India is committed to maintaining peace along the border. He further said that Bangladesh should support the construction of fencing along the border where needed to prevent cross-border crimes and smuggling.
The ministry’s response came after three Bangladeshis were killed on Wednesday by an angry mob on suspicion of being cattle thieves in a border village called Bidyabil, in the Khowai district of Tripura.
The MEA said that three miscreants crossed the international border illegally and attempted to steal cattle from Bidyabil village. The three Bangladeshi nationals also allegedly attacked and injured local villagers with iron dahs and knives, and killed one villager, even as other villagers arrived and resisted the attackers.
As tensions escalated, authorities rushed to the spot, where two smugglers were found dead; a third succumbed to his injuries in hospital the following day.
The ministry further said that the mortal remains of all three miscreants have been handed over to the Bangladesh side. Police have also registered a case.
As per media reports citing locals, the incident was triggered after two villagers were working at a rubber farm close to the border. They spotted three suspicious individuals moving towards the international border with cattle from the area. They confronted the suspected thieves. However, the infiltrators allegedly attacked the locals. Meanwhile, angry locals gathered, confronted the suspected Bangladeshi thieves, and allegedly thrashed them to death.
Meanwhile, Dhaka condemned the killing of three of its nationals in Tripura, describing it as a “heinous act" and a “grave violation of human rights and the rule of law".
A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh said, “The Government of Bangladesh strongly protests and condemns the brutal beating and killing of three Bangladeshi citizens by a mob in Tripura, India, on 15 October 2025."
“This heinous act is an unacceptable and grave violation of human rights and the rule of law. The Government of Bangladesh expresses its serious concern over this deplorable incident and calls upon the Government of India to conduct an immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident and take sincere efforts to stop the recurrence of such inhumane acts," the statement added.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry also urged New Delhi to conduct an “immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident and take sincere efforts to stop the recurrence of such inhumane acts". “The perpetrators must be identified and brought to justice," it added.
Source: India Today