3 weeks ago
West Bengal tea farmer abducted from plantation, taken into Bangladesh
A farmer in India has gone missing.
His name is Dipankar Gope, and he is 35 years old.
He was working alone in his tea garden one Saturday morning when some people from Bangladesh crossed the border.
They grabbed him and took him to Bangladesh, where border guards and police now hold him.
Leaders from both sides met, but they could not get him released right away.
Two days earlier, the Indian border force caught a Bangladeshi man who was trying to cut the border fence.
Gope's family thinks the kidnappers took him to get that man released.
A video appeared online showing Gope saying he would be freed if that man was released, but the video has not been proven real.
Farmers who live near the border are now scared and want more guards around.
Gope's father is asking the leaders to bring his son home safely.
Dipankar Gope, 35, was allegedly overpowered by 15-20 Bangladeshi nationals while spraying pesticides in his tea garden near the Chaulhati Border Outpost.
Gope was taken across the border into Bangladesh's Panchagarh district and handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh and local police.
A BSF-BGB flag meeting on Saturday evening failed to secure his immediate release, and he reportedly remained in BGB custody.
Family and local leaders suspect the abduction is retaliation for the BSF's August 6 detention of Tamiz Uddin, a Bangladeshi national allegedly caught cutting the border fence.
An unverified video purportedly shows Gope saying he would be released if India releases Tamiz Uddin, with BGB personnel seen alongside villagers.
The Jalpaiguri District Small Tea Growers' Association has urged the BSF to increase patrolling to protect farmers working alone near the border.
- Who
- Dipankar Gope, a 35-year-old tea farmer from Tasar Para village in West Bengal, allegedly taken by about 15-20 Bangladeshi nationals.
- What
- Gope was abducted from his tea garden near the Chaulhati Border Outpost, forcibly taken across the border into Bangladesh's Panchagarh district, and handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh and local police; a BSF-BGB flag meeting failed to secure his release.
- Where
- Gope's tea garden around 140 metres (about 150 yards) inside Indian territory near Gate Number 30 of the Chaulhati Border Outpost in Rajganj, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal; he was taken to Panchagarh district, Bangladesh.
- When
- Saturday morning, following the earlier detention of a Bangladeshi national on August 6.
- Why
- Suspected retaliation for the BSF's detention of Tamiz Uddin, a Bangladeshi national allegedly caught cutting the border fence, with an unverified video linking Gope's release to Uddin.
Indian authorities, family and local leaders
Bangladeshi authorities
Nature of the incident
Indian authorities, family and local leaders
Gope was forcibly abducted from his own land inside Indian territory by a group of Bangladeshi nationals, and his family alleges the kidnapping was retaliation for the August 6 incident.
Bangladeshi authorities
Bangladeshi authorities were reportedly considering filing charges against Gope for allegedly crossing the international border, rather than treating him only as a victim.
The video and the proposed prisoner exchange
Indian authorities, family and local leaders
An unverified video purportedly shows Gope saying he would be released if India releases Tamiz Uddin, with BGB personnel seen alongside the villagers making the demand.
Bangladeshi authorities
The authenticity of the video could not be independently verified, and no official position from Bangladeshi authorities on a prisoner exchange has been confirmed.
Security response near the border
Indian authorities, family and local leaders
Rajganj MLA Dinesh Sarkar and the Jalpaiguri District Small Tea Growers' Association called for increased BSF patrolling and security for farmers working alone near the fence.
Bangladeshi authorities
The flag meeting between BSF and BGB officials did not lead to Gope's immediate release, and he was handed over to police in Panchagarh; both forces have intensified efforts against smuggling and infiltration.
Key facts
- Victim
- Dipankar Gope, 35-year-old tea farmer
- Location
- Tea garden near Gate Number 30, Chaulhati Border Outpost, Rajganj, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal
- Alleged abductors
- Group of about 15-20 Bangladeshi nationals
- Taken to
- Panchagarh district, Bangladesh
- Distance from border
- About 140 metres (roughly 150 yards) inside Indian territory
- Farm size
- 3.72 acres
- Earlier incident
- August 6: Tamiz Uddin detained for allegedly cutting the border fence
- Diplomatic talks
- BSF-BGB flag meeting held Saturday evening; no immediate release
Quotes
Bijaygopal Chakraborty
President of the Jalpaiguri District Small Tea Growers’ Association
“The association has urged authorities to increase BSF patrolling and strengthen security around agricultural areas, particularly during working hours when farmers are often alone in their fields.”
firstpost.com
“He had taken up the matter with the BSF Inspector General and suggested that the alleged abduction may have been connected to the earlier infiltration incident.”
firstpost.com
Sources
Related news
Bengal Tea Worker Abducted Near Border, Family Alleges Bangladeshi Gang
Growers seek Shah's intervention for Jalpaiguri grower held in Bangladesh
Two Bengal farmers return home from BGB custody
Seven Bangladeshi nationals arrested trying to cross border in Murshidabad
Bangladeshi National Detained in Bengal, Sent to Detention Centre
Shami Shines as East Zone Reaches Duleep Trophy Final
Bengal Reports Over 4,000 Dengue Cases, Down 50% This Year
Bengal Rolls Out QR System To Monitor Waste Segregation
LPG e-KYC Deadline Ends as 12 Lakh Users Remain Pending
Five Taal Recipes Bring Bengal’s Monsoon Fruit to Janmashtami
