Bangladesh hands over nine criminals to India

New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI) - In a sign of growing bonhomie
between Bangladesh Rifles (B.D.R.) and Border Security Force
(B.S.F.), nine criminals, including three militants, were
handed over to India, a move which was reciprocated by New
Delhi by handing over four wanted criminals to Dhaka.

"The B.D.R. has handed over nine criminals to us and we
have handed over four Bangladeshi criminals to them," Director
General of B.S.F. A. K. Mitra told PTI here on the sidelines
of a function.

Three militants of the National Democratic Front of
Boroland (N.D.F.B.) and a truck driver, who recently completed
their jail term in Bangladesh, were handed over to the B.S.F.
by the B.D.R. at Dalu border post in West Garo Hills district
in Meghalaya last month.

The exchange of other criminals between the two border
guarding forces took place in West Bengal and Tripura sectors.

Among those who were handed over Khorang Mushahary, Deben
Mushahary and Sanjay Das are of NDFB. The truck driver was
identified as Parmeshwar Chouhan.

"The exchange of criminals between the B.S.F. and B.D.R.
have taken place after several rounds of talks between the two
sides over a period," Mitra said.

Security sources said, in June, Bangladesh had handed
over three United Achik National Front (U.A.N.F.) militants
and an N.D.F.B. cadre to Meghalaya Police. The U.A.N.F.
militants had reportedly confessed their involvement in a bomb
blast in Tura market two years back and in the kidnapping of a
businessman Rajib Sharma.

There have been many instances in the past when BDR has
"handed over" or "pushed back" Indian militants, but this was
done "silently" without any publicity.

The B.S.F. has already given to BDR a long list of
criminals who were wanted in India for different crimes. The
names in the list include ULFA "commander-in-chief" Paresh
Barua and Chairman of the outfit Arabinda Rajkhow. Both are
believed to have been hiding in Dhaka.

India has also been pressing for the handing over of ULFA
general secretary Anup Cheta, currently lodged in a
Bangladeshi jail.

A similar list of wanted criminals of Bangladesh was also
handed over by BDR to BSF some time back. PTI ACB