LOOKEAST

LOOKEAST REPORT |

The position of the mentally–challenged woman has now been changed with the change of water level of river Feni due to recent rainfall in the region. The ill woman is now Bangladeshi side of the border, near the BGB temporary tent post.

OFFICIALS in Tripura confirmed a middle–aged woman, who is reportedly mentally–challenged, has been stranded on a sandbar in Feni river along the Bangladesh’s hill district Khagrachhari since April 2.

As the security forces guarding the international border on both the sides have claimed that she is not their citizen.

■ The ill woman is now sited inside Bangladesh territory | Privately Arranged

Local villagers in Indian side claimed that the ‘mentally ill’ women was stranded with the help of its border force (Border Guards Bangladesh)

personnel, tried to push her into Indian territory. While some said she was pushed with sticks by people of Bangladesh side to the Indian side. However the Border Security Force (BSF) on ground alerted and resist their attempts.

“People of Bangladesh are providing food and water to the stranded women after attempts by local Bangladeshis and the BGB to push her into India failed,” a BSF official at Kathalchhari border outpost told media.

Mentally ill women was stranded with help of its border force (Border Guards Bangladesh) personnel, tried to push her into Indian territory, while the Border Security Force (BSF) resisted their attempts. While some said she was pushed with sticks by people of Bangladesh side

Residents of Kathalchhari and Amtali villages along the border claimed the BGB personnel along with locals have tried to push the woman into the Indian territory from three different places since April 2.

“On the afternoon of April 2, we heard a lot of noise near the river opposite our house. We saw 20 Bangladeshis trying to push a woman into India from the other side of the river and BGB personnel were encouraging them,” Rupam Basak (26), a resident of Kathalchhari village of Sabroom said —  as reported by local media.

■ BGB announcement in media

Tripura shares 856 kilometres long boundary with Bangladesh.

A 67–km stretch along the Tripura frontier is unfenced, including three km along Kathalchhari and Amtali villages, according to BSF officials.

Ladies from nearby village (Bangladesh side) washed the ill women. They dressed her with new cloths. Also served her cooked meal. As bengalis of both side of the border observing New Year festival today

“A few women from Amtali village spoke to the stranded woman by shouting out to her. Apparently, she is Bangladeshi as she calls water ‘paani’ whereas Indian Bengalis call it ‘jol’. Moreover, she gave a reference of Mirpur in Dhaka and said she was in love with a man named Faruk who recently married another woman,” a villager said.

A BSF official from nearby camp claimed that he visited the area and conducted an extensive inquiry. After that he submitted his report to his higher authority.

“There is no doubt that the woman is from Bangladesh and the neighbouring country should take her back,” told a high–ranking officer based in TRA Ftr headquarter over telephone with LOOKEAST.

The officer also share with LOOKEAST that — this morning with the help of BGB troopers, villagers in Bangladesh side go to see the ill women on the sandbar, where she stranded since 2nd April.

Ladies from nearby village (Bangladesh side) washed the ill women. They dressed her with new cloths. Also served her cooked food. As bengalis of both side of the border observing New Year festival today.

BSF authority claimed that there has been a clear pattern of Bangladeshis pushing mentally–challenged persons from their country through this frontier.

“Perhaps they want the mentally–challenged persons to be treated in mental asylums in Tripura as there are many such patients from the neighbouring country admitted to the lone mental hospital in Agartala,” the BSF official said.

At least 18 mentally–challenged persons from Bangladesh are being treated at Agartala’s Modern Psychiatric Hospital.

Such persons are handed over to Bangladesh from time to time after their recovery, Dr. Jyotirmoy Ghosh of the hospital said. ■