Assam: Man repatriated to Bangladesh claims Indian citizenship, tensions flare at Mankachar

A man who was earlier repatriated to Bangladesh following his detention in Assam, is now claiming to be Indian. A tense situation intensified in Mankachar on Tuesday, May 27 morning when the Border Security Force (BSF) fired multiple warning shots into the air to control escalating tensions at the Thakuranbari International Border.

According to reports, 14 individuals who allegedly entered India illegally were being pushed back through the Mankachar border when personnel of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) allegedly intervened, leading to a verbal altercation with the Indian BSF troops. Sources claimed that BGB personnel crossed into the zero line of the border and resisted the repatriation effort.

The situation rapidly worsened as hundreds of Bangladeshi civilians reportedly joined BGB personnel at the zero line, prompting the BSF to fire four warning shots to prevent further escalation and maintain control. Senior officials from both nations have since reached the border to defuse the situation.

In a parallel development, one of the individuals repatriated across the border sent a video message—allegedly from Bangladesh—claiming that he is, in fact, an Indian citizen. In the message, the man asserts that he owns land and a house in India and that his mother and brother are connected to the local ward administration in Assam.

He further alleged that he was not informed about his detention in advance and was provided with no documentation regarding his status. According to his statement, he was unexpectedly taken to the Superintendent of Police’s office and from there, escorted to the Mankachar border without explanation. He claims he was made to cross the border along with others and left stranded in a field on the Bangladesh side.

An official response from Indian authorities is awaited, while diplomatic efforts are reportedly underway to address the cross-border fallout from today’s developments.