Bengali farmer ‘abducted’ by Bangladeshi miscreants repatriated to India

Elderly farmer abducted by Bangladeshi nationals repatriated to India after almost a month, sparking celebrations in West Bengal.

A farmer from West Bengal’s Coochbehar district, who was allegedly captured by Bangladeshi nationals last month, was repatriated to India on Wednesday night (May 14, 2025).

Ukil Burman, an elderly farmer residing in Coochbehar’s Sitalkuchi area, was reportedly working on a field near the international border on April 16, when a group of Bangladeshi nationals allegedly abducted him.

He was repatriated on the same day as Purnam Kumar Shaw, a constable of the Border Security Force who was in the custody of Pakistani forces since April 23 after he inadvertently crossed the international border.

Celebrations ensued at Mr. Burman’s home in Sitalkuchi, where a large number of his relatives and neighbours had gathered with sweets on the occasion of his return after almost a month.

“I was working in a rice field at that time. Around six Bangladeshi nationals captured me and took me to an unknown location. I tried screaming, but to no avail. They had taken hold of my limbs. I was made to sleep on the floor, but they did not assault me,” Mr. Burman told local mediapersons after returning home on Thursday.

He was reportedly handed over to the neighbouring country’s authorities and was in jail in Bangladesh’s Lalmonirhat for nearly a month till his return. 

Upon his return, Mr. Burman underwent medical tests and was taken to the Sitalkuchi police station briefly before he was brought home to his family.