17 Bangladeshis held by BSF sent to jail

They may not be freed soon as they will possibly face investigation, police sources said.

At a flag meeting on Tuesday, BSF returned the body of Bangladeshi national Rezaul Islam. He was shot dead by BSF Saturday night.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

BDR sources said BSF declared 'red alert' and hoisted red flag along borders in Nadia and Murshidabad districts following the August 17 serial bombing in Bangladesh.

"The Indian authorities now want to be sure that the persons they arrested (17 Bangladeshis) were not involved in the August 17 incident", BDR Sector Commander in Kushtia Lt. Col. Didar told this correspondent yesterday.

"The Bangladeshi citizens were caught after BSF was alerted following the August 17 incidents", he said.

Local sources said the 17 were held from Bangladesh waterline of the Padma by a BSF team from Jalangi camp in Murshidabad district.

Later BSF claimed that they caught the Bangladeshis as they crossed the Indian waterline and handed them over to Baharampur police. BSF also seized the engine boat on which the 17 Bangladeshis were traveling.