Three Habiganj men ‘beaten to death’ in India’s Tripura

Three men from Habiganj’s Chunarughat Upazila have allegedly been beaten to death in India’s Tripura state.

The bodies were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) through the Kedaraghat border on Thursday evening.

Tripura’s Khowai Police Station chief Krishna Dhan Sarkar and Chunarughat administrator (UNO) Shafiqul Islam were present during the handover.

The dead were identified as Pandit Mia, Sajal Mia, and Jewel Mia.

Habiganj Additional Police Superintendent Probas Kumar Singh confirmed the repatriation. “BSF returned all three bodies. After formalities, they will be handed over to the families.”

Lt Col Md Tanzilur Rahman, commander of the 55-BGB Battalion in Habiganj, said the three men had gone to the hills on Tuesday morning to collect tendu leaves, commonly used in bidi production.

“At some point, they crossed into India’s Khowai district, specifically the Karengichhara area under BSF’s 70th battalion,” he said. “Local residents, suspecting them of theft, beat them and shot arrows at them, leading to their deaths.”

The incident circulated on social media on Wednesday, drawing the attention of the victims’ families, law-enforcing agencies, and border authorities.

Ruzina Akter, wife of victim Pandit, said: “I found out through Facebook. He went to the hills to collect bidi leaves. I don’t know how he ended up in India.

“My husband and two others were beaten and shot with arrows. The BGB has recovered the bodies and said they will hand them over to us.”