- By Ajeet Kumar
- Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:39 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
- West Bengal tea farmer Dipankar Gope abducted near border.
- Incident linked to arrest of Bangladeshi national by BSF.
- BSF in talks with BGB for farmer's safe return.
A 35-year-old tea farmer from West Bengal has been allegedly abducted near the India-Bangladesh border, heightening tensions in the area. Dipankar Gope was working in his tea garden in Tasar Para village, Jalpaiguri district, when a group of around 20 men kidnapped him, India Today reported on Sunday. The village is located just 150 yards from the border fence of the BSF’s Chaulhati outpost.
Family members said the group dragged Gope across the international border into Bangladesh’s Panchagarh district and handed him over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). The incident is believed to be a retaliatory act following the arrest of a Bangladeshi national by the Border Security Force (BSF) two days earlier.
India detained a Bangladeshi national
On Thursday, BSF personnel detained a Bangladeshi man, identified as Tamiz Uddin, who was trying to enter India by cutting the barbed-wire fence near Chaulhati. Officials linked him to a cross-border smuggling network and handed him over to the police.
Gope’s relatives claim the abduction was carried out in revenge for that arrest. A video has surfaced in which Gope can be heard saying he would be freed only if India releases Tamiz Uddin. The authenticity of the clip has not been independently confirmed by The Daily Jagran. Gope’s father has publicly appealed for his son’s safe return, calling the kidnapping an act of revenge tied to the recent border arrest.
Flag meetings held between India and Pakistani officials
BSF teams responded promptly and held a flag meeting with BGB officials on Saturday evening in an effort to secure Gope’s release. However, the farmer was still reported to be in BGB custody late on Saturday. Sources said the BSF remains in continuous contact with its Bangladeshi counterpart and has pressed for Gope’s immediate and safe handover.
The incident has triggered anxiety in surrounding border villages. Residents fear that ordinary people working near the fence could become targets, raising serious concerns about local security.
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The case has once again drawn attention to the challenges of managing the porous India-Bangladesh border. In response, the BSF has stepped up efforts to check smuggling and stop illegal infiltration in the region. Both sides continue discussions aimed at resolving the matter and ensuring the safe return of the Indian farmer.