Pakistan-based anti-India propaganda accounts are spreading a video depicting a group of smugglers involved in a physical altercation with BSF personnel. It is being circulated with the claim that Bangladeshi civilians and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel attacked BSF jawans as they tried to cross into Bangladesh. In reality, BSF personnel, while patrolling near the international border in Tripura, confronted a group of Bangladeshi smugglers attempting to smuggle bidis and other contraband.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) Pakistan-based propaganda account @TacticalTribun wrote. “Brave Bangladeshi people and BGB attacked Indian BSF when they tried to enter Bangladeshi territory.”
Another propaganda account @QueenBangla also shared the video and wrote. “When Indian soldiers came to build illegal structures on the border, local Muslims along with Bangladeshi border guards also came forward. At one point, when the Indian soldiers wanted to shoot, the people of Bangladesh jumped on them. They tried to snatch their weapons.” (Translated from Bengali)
Several other users, influencers and propagandists have also shared the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @Defres360, @AsianDigest.
The truth about the video, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the incident. We found that the incident was related to a clash between Bangladeshi smugglers and BSF personnel.
To verify the claims made by propagandists. We performed a relevant keyword search and found media reports regarding the incident. According to the reports (1, 2), “BSF jawans on duty in the area intercepted a group of Bangladeshi smugglers trying to smuggle bidi and other contraband items. Upon being ordered to halt, the smugglers tried to attack the jawans with sharp weapons, tried to snatch their arms and abused the security personnel,” a BSF official told indianexpress.
The official said that amid the standoff near Magroli in Kailashahar, a group of BGB personnel from the Bangladesh side came near the border fence and helped the Indian forces by putting up a collective effort to thwart the smugglers, who numbered 15-20. After more BSF jawans arrived on the spot, the smugglers ran away.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that the BSF personnel didn’t enter Bangladeshi territory to occupy. The incident is related to Bangladeshi smugglers, not civilians.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) January 9, 2025
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: Pakistan-based anti-India propaganda accounts are circulating a misleading video claiming that Bangladeshi civilians and BGB personnel attacked BSF jawans when they attempted to enter Bangladeshi territory. The truth is that BSF personnel, (1/5) pic.twitter.com/AtstbbJkH2
Intent
Propagandists are circulating videos from the India-Bangladesh border with misleading claims to defend criminal activities along the international border.
Conclusion
Claim– India’s BSF personnel were attacked by Bangladeshi civilians when they entered Bangladeshi territory.
Fact– The video is related to an altercation between Bangladeshi smugglers and the BSF. BSF didn’t enter Bangladeshi territory to occupy.
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