Police arrested eight more accused in the November 2 attack on BSF personnel at Ashabari in Tripura’s Sepahijala district, taking total arrests to 18. Chief Minister Manik Saha reviewed the incident and directed strict legal action and stronger border security.
Police have arrested eight more accused in connection with the brutal attack on Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at Ashabari village in Tripura’s Sepahijala district on November 2, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 18, including three women. The latest arrests were made during raids conducted across different locations in the district on Thursday night and early Friday morning, police officials said.
The incident took place at Ashabari village under Kalamchaura Police Station, along the India-Bangladesh international border. The attack on BSF personnel has raised serious concerns over security and law and order in the border areas.
According to police sources, the eight newly arrested accused were picked up from different parts of Sepahijala district as the investigation into the incident continued. With these arrests, the total number of people taken into custody in connection with the attack has reached 18, including three women.
All the accused have been booked under various provisions of 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.
Earlier, the first 10 accused arrested in the case were produced before a court. Following the court’s directions, the male accused were remanded to police custody for further investigation, while the women accused were sent to judicial custody.
Police are continuing their investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify the roles of those allegedly involved. The authorities are also examining the incident in the broader context of security challenges and suspected cross-border smuggling activities in the border region.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha has taken a serious view of the incident and directed the authorities to initiate stringent action against those responsible. On Thursday night, the Chief Minister chaired a high-level meeting with senior security and administrative officials to review the Ashabari attack and assess the overall law and order situation in the state.
In a post on X, Saha informed that the meeting was held at the TIFT Conference Hall in Agartala. Senior representatives from the state administration, Tripura Police, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Assam Rifles attended the meeting.
During the review, the Ashabari incident was discussed, and the Chief Minister instructed the concerned authorities to ensure strict legal action against everyone found involved in the attack.
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Saha also emphasised a zero-tolerance policy towards cross-border smuggling and directed security agencies to strengthen surveillance and security arrangements along sensitive border areas. He stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among different security forces and state agencies to maintain peace, public safety and law and order.
The Chief Minister’s intervention comes amid intensified police action following the attack on BSF personnel. The growing number of arrests reflects the ongoing investigation and the administration’s efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
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The incident has once again highlighted the importance of effective coordination between state police and central security forces in safeguarding India’s international border areas. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to maintaining security and taking firm action against criminal activities, including cross-border smuggling, in Tripura.
