The Border Security Force (BSF) posted at the India-Bangladesh border in north Bengal aborted at least three attempts by groups of Bangladeshis to infiltrate India on Sunday.

While two attempts were made at the international border in North Dinajpur, the third attempt was made in the neighbouring South Dinajpur district.

BSF sources said at around 8.40pm, twelve Bangladeshis were spotted near the border by their troops posted in the Nargaon border outpost of North Dinajpur.

“They were trying to enter India and when our men challenged them, the Bangladeshis stopped and retreated to their homeland,” said a source.

After the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh, such attempts were made by a section of Bangladeshis, mostly Hindus, to enter India. Hundreds of them had assembled in unfenced areas near Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts, seeking refuge in the country. The BSF however, had stopped them from crossing the border and had sent them back to their country.

“Since then, our troops are on alert. Additional forces have been deployed at the border to step up vigilance, especially during the evening and night hours across the border, particularly along the unfenced areas,” an official said.

Like Nargaon, the BSF personnel posted in Qualigarh, a border outpost in the same district at around 8.30pm, noticed four to five Bangladeshis who were trying to enter India. They immediately intervened and thwarted the attempt.

The third attempt was reported by the Chakgopal border outpost of the BSF in South Dinajpur district. Three Bangladeshis had planned to cross the border and walk into India illegally but the BSF stopped them, sources said.