The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched an extensive investigation into a Chinese-made drone that was found near the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura. The drone, which weighs approximately 915 grams and is equipped with two high-resolution cameras, was discovered by a young boy in a paddy field close to the Durgabari Border Outpost on Friday. This field is situated just 650 meters from the international boundary.
According to officials, the boy brought the drone home without realizing its significance and washed it with water before his family alerted local authorities about the find. The Tripura Police took immediate action by securing the drone and subsequently dispatched it to the state forensic science laboratory for a preliminary analysis. Once the forensic assessment is completed, the drone will be transferred to the BSF for a detailed examination at its headquarters in New Delhi.
In the aftermath of the discovery, a coordination meeting was convened between officials from the BSF and the Tripura Police to streamline the investigation process. As of now, authorities have not been able to ascertain the drone’s origin or intended purpose, and further inquiries are anticipated to clarify whether it was utilized for surveillance or any other operations.
The BSF’s heightened vigilance along the Indo-Bangladesh border is largely a response to the increasing internal instability in Bangladesh, especially following the political upheaval resulting from the ousting of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Tripura, with its 856-kilometer shared border with Bangladesh, is recognized as one of India’s most sensitive and porous states, vulnerable to infiltration, smuggling, and cross-border crimes.
While security forces have managed to fence off a significant portion of the border, incidents of breaches continue to pose a challenge. The discovery of the drone has intensified existing concerns regarding foreign surveillance attempts and the potential for technological infiltration in border regions.
