US embassy cable - 05DHAKA4355

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 004355 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, BG 
SUBJECT: SECURITY FORCES PATROLLING BORDERING VILLAGES FOR 
INDIAN INSURGENTS 
 
Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Counselor David Renz, reasons 1.4(d) 
 
1. (SBU) On August 27-30, Poloff visited the Moulvibazaar 
district, located in northeast Bangladesh in the Sylhet 
division, to visit indigenous groups to investigate a report 
of a recent attack and forced eviction of a Khasia village 
(septel) and to follow up on media reports of the deaths of 
six people in a bordering village, which police claim were 
Indian insurgents. 
 
2. (SBU) In one bordering Tripura indigenous village, leaders 
told poloff that BDR officials often visit the village 
inquiring about any Indian insurgents staying there but are 
generally respectful and do not disturb the village. 
 
3. (C) In a Monipuri indigenous village, one of the leaders 
Kuleswar Sing, said that RAB surrounded his house at 3 am and 
burst into his home at 5 am on May 27 looking for Indian 
insurgents.  While Sing said there were no Indians staying in 
the village, RAB found a Monipuri with Indian citizenship 
staying in the neighboring house.  As a result, RAB beat up 
Sing and four other men in his neighborhood.  Sing claims he 
did not know that their neighbor had a visiting relative from 
a Monipuri village in India staying with them.  He also said 
he did not know any more than what was reported about the six 
alleged Indian insurgents killed on May 27 in a nearby 
bordering village, though he guesses they are members of the 
National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT). 
 
4. (SBU) Local journalists, also say they do not have any 
further details about the six alleged Indian insurgents 
killed on May 27 but since nobody in the area has been able 
to identify the bodies they say it seems reasonable to 
conclude the six were indeed from India.  Journalists also 
said that even though RAB is not stationed in the area, when 
news arrived that some RAB would come to town for a few days 
last month, all known criminals immediately fled the area and 
people carried on their routines with increased caution. 
CHAMMAS