The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has handed over the bodies of three Bangladeshi nationals who were hacked to death in India’s Tripura state.

The handover took place on Thursday evening when the BSF returned the bodies through Chunarughat Police in Habiganj district. Officials from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, and the upazila administration were present during the process.

According to sources at the BGB’s Habiganj Battalion, the three victims—residents of the border area in Vidyabil under Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar—had crossed into India two to three days earlier. Local Indian villagers, suspecting them to be thieves, attacked them with sharp weapons and bows, killing all three on the spot.

The deceased were identified as Jewel Mia, son of Ashbab Ali of Alinagar village; Pandit Mia, son of Kona Mia of Basulla village; and Sajal Mia, son of Kuddus Mia of Kabilashpur village—all from Chunarughat upazila in Habiganj.

Present at the handover ceremony on behalf of Bangladesh were the victims’ family members, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shafiqul Islam, Assistant Superintendent of Police Salimur Rahman, Chunarughat Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zahidul Islam, and Balla BGB Company Commander Khairul Alam. Representing India were Khowai Police Station OC Krishnan Dhan Sarkar, BSF Company Commander Kurdish, and local administrative officials.

Chunarughat OC Md Zahidul Rahman said the BSF handed over the bodies after post-mortem examinations were completed in India. “We prepared the inquest reports after receiving the bodies, and the families will be allowed to take them after completing legal formalities,” he added.