Local residents in the Satmera border area of Panchagarh Sadar have detained Indian national Dipankar Gop after alleging that India’s Border Security Force, or BSF, took away Bangladeshi elderly resident Md Tamiz Uddin. On Saturday morning, residents brought Gop to the Birajot area after he crossed the barbed-wire fence and entered Bangladesh. They said he would not be released unless Tamiz Uddin was returned. Tension has been reported in the area.

Gop, 30, is identified as the son of Mishrilal Gop from Chaulhati Tashanpara in Rajganj police station area of Jalpaiguri district, India. According to local residents, he had come to work in a tea garden on the other side of the fence and entered the Bangladesh side. He is currently in the custody of Border Guard Bangladesh, police and local residents.

Locals said Tamiz Uddin, 78, a resident of Birajot, left home last Wednesday to look for cattle and was taken by BSF near the border fence. His son Azahar said his father has difficulty hearing and walking. No formal BGB statement was available, but a source said a BGB-BSF flag meeting is expected regarding Tamiz Uddin’s return and Gop’s situation.