Indian police on Sunday detained 22 Bangladeshi cattlemen who entered the country through Hapania border in Naogaon’s Sapahar upazila.
Quoting the detainees, 14 BGB Commanding Officer Lt Col Rafiqul Hasan said around 50 cattlemen from different villages of the upazila accompanied some cattle traders to India on Saturday night.
“Early on Sunday morning, they all returned to Bangladesh with cattle but the 22 cattlemen could not because of careful vigilance of India’s Border Security Force along the border.
“They went back to Pakuahat area and were planning to go into hiding but were detained by police on charges of illegal entry in the evening,” he said.
The detained cattlemen were sent to Malda district prison, said Hapania 14 BGB Camp Commander Naik Subedar Mofazzal Hossain.
He said the BGB had nothing to do to secure the release of the detainees as they were held by Indian police.
“We could have taken steps if they had been detained by the BSF,” he said.
Lt Col Rafiqul said the Home Ministry had been informed of the detention of the 22 cattlemen.
