Indian man with mental illness, branded a spy, awaits return from Bangladesh
Synopsis
A 66-year-old mentally ill man from Malda disappeared five years ago — and turned up in Bangladesh, falsely branded a spy on social media. It took amateur radio operators from two countries and four months of diplomatic groundwork to clear his name. He now waits at a railway station in Rangpur for the paperwork that will finally take him home.
Key Takeaways
Tinkari Rishi , a 66-year-old mentally challenged man from Ghoshpara, Malda, West Bengal , inadvertently crossed into Bangladesh and was rescued on 10 March 2025 .
Social media posts in Bangladesh falsely accused him of being an Indian spy, triggering a formal inquiry that took nearly four months to resolve.
Amateur radio operators from the West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC) and their Bangladeshi counterparts identified him and traced his family in Chanchal, Malda .
His nephew Bikram Rishi confirmed his identity and provided copies of his Aadhaar Card and EPIC to Bangladeshi authorities.
Tinkari is currently sheltered at Pirgacha railway station, Rangpur , and the WBRC has approached the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata to arrange his return.
A 66-year-old mentally challenged Indian man from Malda district, West Bengal, who inadvertently crossed into Bangladesh and was falsely suspected of espionage, is now awaiting expatriation and reunification with his family, government officials confirmed on Wednesday, 8 July 2025. Amateur radio operators from both countries have been instrumental in securing his release and identification.
How He Was Found
The elderly man, identified as Tinkari Rishi, was rescued near a highway in Rangpur district, Bangladesh, on 10 March 2025. HAM radio operators from Bangladesh took charge of his immediate care — providing him clean clothes and food — before reaching out to their counterparts at the West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC), an organisation that uses amateur radio networks to reunite missing persons with their families.
Spy Allegations and Four-Month Ordeal
Shortly after his rescue, reports began circulating on Bangladeshi social media alleging that Rishi was an Indian spy disguised as a mentally ill person. Authorities took notice, and Bangladeshi HAM operators worked to establish that he had no connection to espionage whatsoever. The process of clearing him took nearly four months, after which he was formally exonerated.
Notably, this case highlights the vulnerability of mentally ill individuals who wander across poorly marked border zones — and the speed with which social media suspicion can complicate humanitarian situations.
Family Traced Through Radio Network
Ambarish Nag Biswas, Secretary of the West Bengal Radio Club, said that while it was clear the man was Indian, he was unable to provide any details about his family. 'It was clear that he is an Indian, but he could not provide any details about his family. We got his photographs and details circulated all across the country. Finally, a family in West Bengal's Malda identified him,' Nag Biswas said.
A youth named Bikram Rishi from Chanchal in Malda contacted the WBRC and confirmed the man was his uncle. According to Bikram, Tinkari had suffered from a mental illness and disappeared from their home in Ghoshpara nearly five years ago. Despite repeated efforts, the family had been unable to trace him. Bikram subsequently provided photocopies of Tinkari's Aadhaar Card and Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), which have been forwarded to Bangladeshi authorities for verification.
Current Situation and Next Steps
Tinkari Rishi is currently being cared for by Jainul Abedin, an amateur radio operator in Bangladesh. He is staying at Pirgacha railway station in Rangpur, where he receives food and other supplies. The WBRC has formally approached the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata to arrange his expatriation. A source within the Deputy High Commission confirmed that the request has been received and that officials have visited Dhaka to process the matter. His family in Malda is now awaiting formal clearance for his return.
Point of View
Within days, a 'spy' in the court of viral opinion — and it took four months of diplomatic and amateur-radio effort to undo that narrative. The real story is the institutional gap: India and Bangladesh have no fast-track humanitarian protocol for mentally ill or destitute border crossers, leaving the burden on volunteer networks like the WBRC. Without such a framework, the next Tinkari Rishi could wait far longer — or never make it back at all.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tinkari Rishi and why was he in Bangladesh?
Tinkari Rishi is a 66-year-old mentally challenged man from Ghoshpara in Malda, West Bengal, who reportedly wandered across the India-Bangladesh border inadvertently. He had gone missing from his home nearly five years before he was found in Bangladesh's Rangpur district on 10 March 2025.
Why was Tinkari Rishi accused of being a spy?
After he was rescued near a highway in Rangpur, reports circulated on Bangladeshi social media alleging he was an Indian spy posing as a mentally ill person. Bangladeshi authorities launched an inquiry, and HAM radio operators worked to establish he had no espionage links. He was exonerated after approximately four months.
How was his family in India traced?
The West Bengal Radio Club circulated his photographs and details across India. A youth named Bikram Rishi from Chanchal in Malda recognised him as his uncle and contacted the WBRC, providing copies of Tinkari's Aadhaar Card and Electoral Photo Identity Card to verify his identity.
What is the current status of his return to India?
Tinkari Rishi is currently being cared for at Pirgacha railway station in Rangpur, Bangladesh, by amateur radio operator Jainul Abedin. The West Bengal Radio Club has formally requested the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata to arrange his expatriation, and the commission has confirmed receipt of the request and initiated processing in Dhaka.
What role did amateur radio operators play in this case?
HAM radio operators from Bangladesh provided immediate care and worked to clear Tinkari of spy allegations. They then coordinated with the West Bengal Radio Club, which used its amateur radio network to circulate his details across India and ultimately trace his family in Malda.
