Indian farmer kidnapped by Bangladeshi nationals returns home

Agartala: An Indian farmer who was kidnapped by Bangladeshi nationals after one of their citizens was arrested by the BSF has been rescued, police said on Friday. Bangladeshi Sohel Mia, 42, was handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday who then sent him back to Bangladesh. Tension prevailed along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura and additional troopers were deployed. [caption id=“attachment_1802769” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  Bangladesh’s supporters hold placards against BSF. Reuters[/caption] “Indian villagers on Thursday threatened to hold a protest if Mia was sent back to Bangladesh,” a police official said. He said, “During their routine patrolling along the border at Mohanpur (western Tripura), the BSF on Wednesday detained Sohel Mia along with a cow. He was later handed over to Tripura Police.” In retaliation, Bangladeshi nationals kidnapped Rajkumar Sharma, 45, while he was returning from his paddy field on Wednesday evening. He was taken deep into a Bangladesh village, the official said. Indian officials then asked Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials to rescue the Indian national. The BSF officials also on Thursday held a flag meeting with the BGB officials over the issue. “We have tightened vigil along the border after recent incidents of border crimes and various incidents,” a BSF official said. Since 6 April, seven Bangladeshi cattle thieves have been lynched by mobs in Tripura in three separate incidents. Tripura Police handed over the bodies to the Bangladesh police later. IANS