India on Friday said three Bangladeshi nationals were killed while trying to steal cattle by crossing the Indian border and not by being beaten by a mob as claimed by Dhaka. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that the incident took place on October 15, about 3 kilometers inside the Indian border in Tripura.

Mob accused of murder
The Bangladesh government lodged a strong protest over the incident and alleged that three Bangladeshi nationals were lynched to death by a mob in Tripura. The Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh said in its statement that they condemn and protest against this incident that took place on 15 October 2025.

clash during theft
Rejecting Bangladesh’s allegations, India said that the three persons had entered Padmabil village with the intention of stealing cattle. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, they attacked the villagers with sharp iron weapons and knives, in which one villager died. After this the local people gathered and resisted the attackers.

The ministry said that two smugglers died on the spot, while the third died in the hospital. The bodies of the three have been handed over to Bangladesh and the police have registered a case and started investigation.

Tension in India-Bangladesh relations
This incident has happened at a time when relations between the two countries are already tense. Since the interim government of Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus came to power in August 2024, the rhetoric between the two sides on the border dispute and other issues has intensified.

Need for security measures on the border
India has asked Bangladesh to take concrete steps to stop crime and smuggling on the border, so that the security and discipline of the international border is maintained. The Ministry of External Affairs has also supported measures like fencing.

Smuggling problem on Tripura border
Tripura shares a 856 km long border with Bangladesh. Cow smuggling and illegal infiltration have been a challenge in this area for a long time. Most parts of the border are fenced, yet smugglers sneak in and try to escape to avoid legal action.

It is noteworthy that in a clash between two parties in a border village of Khowai district in Tripura on Wednesday, three Bangladeshis who had come to steal cattle suspected to be dead and two residents of the state were injured.