Shillong: The Border Security Force (BSF) said the 443-km long India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is fully secure and refuted claims of illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals. The paramilitary force issued a statement after reports in the neighbouring country’s media that Awami League leader Ishaq Ali Khan Panna died of a heart attack while climbing a hill in Meghalaya’s Dawki in an attempt to flee his country. Dawki, located in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills, is close to Bangladesh.
A BSF spokesperson told PTI, “There has been no illegal entry of Bangladeshi citizens in the area under BSF’s responsibility on the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya. The story being circulated about Panna’s death is completely fabricated. Illegal infiltration or any activity that compromises the security of our country will be dealt with strictly.” After the violence in Bangladesh on August 5, the BSF has increased vigilance on the border and several attempts of illegal infiltration have been successfully foiled. The BSF contacted the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Assam regarding this matter.
“The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission has confirmed that they have not yet received any official information about Panna’s death near the border area,” the BSF spokesperson said. Local sources in Dawki, including villagers, have denied claims that Panna died while climbing a hill in Meghalaya. An elderly man from Dawki said, “If any Bangladeshi tried to enter India, our relatives from across the border would inform us and we would pass on the information to the BSF and police. There has been no such incident and several attempts by Bangladeshi nationals to cross the border have been foiled.” Another source on the border claimed that Panna died in Bangladesh territory, about 400 metres from the international border.
