Three more people — including a woman — have been arrested in connection with the 2 November mob attack on Border Security Force (BSF) personnel near the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura's Sepahijala district, bringing the total number of accused in custody to 21, including four women, police officials confirmed on Saturday, 7 November.

Latest Arrests and Key Accused

A middle-aged woman identified as Hasina Khatun was apprehended from Kalapania in Sepahijala district on Saturday in connection with the attack at Ashabari village, under the jurisdiction of Kalamchaura police station. Separately, the BSF detained two men identified as Rabiul Hossain and Mahabul Hossain — described by investigators as prime accused — and handed them over to the Kalamchaura Police Station during the night.

According to investigators, video footage purportedly shows Rabiul snatching the service rifle of a BSF jawan during the attack, while Mahabul is seen assaulting BSF personnel with a stick. The footage has been central to the ongoing identification and arrest drive.

What Happened on 2 November

The incident unfolded on 2 November when BSF personnel intercepted a group of alleged smugglers reportedly attempting to move ganja (cannabis) across the international border. Following the interception, the personnel were reportedly surrounded and attacked by a mob of approximately 50 men and women. Three BSF personnel — including a Company Commander — were grievously injured in the assault.

The attackers allegedly snatched a pump-action gun (PAG) from one of the jawans and damaged a BSF vehicle. One of the alleged attackers also sustained injuries during the incident, according to police.

Charges and Investigation

All 21 accused have been booked under multiple statutes, including the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. Police said arrests are being made on the basis of electronic evidence, CCTV footage, and intelligence inputs. 'An intensive search operation, launched immediately after the attack on BSF personnel on November 2, is still underway to apprehend the remaining accused,' an official said. 'No accused would be spared,' the official added.

Joint search operations by police and BSF are continuing at suspected locations — including residences and shops — to apprehend remaining accused and seize contraband and illegally stored goods.

Government Response

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who had earlier condemned the attack and directed authorities to take stringent action, held a series of meetings with senior security officials on Saturday to review the incident and assess the broader law and order situation in the state.

A Recurring Threat on Tripura's Border

This is not an isolated episode. There have been several prior instances of attacks on BSF and police personnel by suspected cross-border smugglers in Tripura, particularly in the smuggling-prone Sepahijala district. Tripura shares an 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh and is surrounded by the neighbouring country on three sides — a geographical reality that makes it acutely vulnerable to cross-border smuggling, illegal movement of people, and other transnational criminal activity. While most stretches of the border have been fenced, investigators say organised smuggling networks continue to exploit gaps and local networks to move contraband.

With the search operation still active and more suspects being identified, further arrests are expected in the coming days.