Agartala: Actor Anupam Kher has strongly condemned the assault on Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Tripura, expressing anger over the incident and questioning what he described as the limited public reaction to the attack. In a video shared on social media, Kher praised an injured jawan for maintaining his composure despite being beaten and urged people not to treat violence against security personnel as an ordinary occurrence.
The actor said watching the footage had left him deeply saddened and angry. He also highlighted the personal lives of soldiers, reminding viewers that personnel in uniform are someone’s children, husbands, brothers and sons.
Kher said the dignity and safety of those protecting the country’s borders should matter to every citizen. He also appreciated the action taken against those allegedly involved in the assault, saying it was important that the incident had not been ignored.
Sharing the video, the actor said he had recorded it in response to his feelings after watching the footage of the attack. His comments have brought renewed attention to the incident, which left three BSF personnel injured in Tripura’s Sepahijala district.
Anupam Kher questions lack of public outrage
In his video message, Kher described the assault as deeply disturbing. He said the footage showed several people, including women, attacking BSF personnel with sticks and fists.
According to the actor, one jawan continued to be assaulted even after being knocked to the ground. He said it was unacceptable to attack anyone simply for performing their duty, particularly personnel responsible for protecting the country’s borders.
Kher also questioned why the incident had not generated the level of public outrage he believed it deserved.
He pointed out that people regularly raise their voices against domestic violence and other forms of abuse, but asked why similar concern was not being expressed when a jawan was attacked in such a manner.
The actor urged citizens not to become indifferent to violence against security personnel. He said the responsibility of respecting and defending the dignity of soldiers did not rest only with the government or the armed forces but also with the public.
Kher’s comments focused not only on the physical assault but also on the need to recognise the human cost of such incidents. He reminded viewers that soldiers have families waiting for them to return home and should not be treated as separate from the rest of society simply because they wear a uniform.
Actor praises jawan’s restraint during assault
One of the central points in Kher’s message was his appreciation of the injured jawan who reportedly did not retaliate despite being attacked.
The actor said the personnel’s restraint reflected the discipline and patience expected of soldiers. He acknowledged that the jawan could have responded with violence but instead maintained his composure while enduring the assault.
Kher said he wanted to salute the personnel for demonstrating remarkable self-control under difficult circumstances.
He also clarified that his appreciation of the arrests was not about taking satisfaction in the punishment of individuals out of revenge. Instead, he described the action as reassurance that the attack had been taken seriously and that violence against a jawan would not be allowed to pass without a response.
Concluding his message, Kher expressed respect for the injured personnel and ended with the words, “Jai Hind.”
What happened in Tripura’s Sepahijala district?
The incident took place on November 2 in Ashabari village in Tripura’s Sepahijala district, near the India-Bangladesh border.
Three BSF personnel, including a Company Commander, were injured after a confrontation with a group of villagers escalated into violence.
According to reports, the trouble began when villagers blocked a road to protest against the alleged assault of a local resident by BSF personnel. The resident was suspected of involvement in smuggling.
The situation reportedly worsened when a vehicle carrying three BSF personnel reached the blockade. A group of people allegedly attacked the personnel using sticks and bamboo poles.
The attackers also reportedly attempted to snatch the personnel’s service firearms and damaged a government vehicle during the confrontation.
The incident prompted complaints from both sides. The BSF and local villagers registered complaints at Kalamchoura police station, following which police began investigating the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
The competing accounts of the events leading up to the assault remain important to the investigation, particularly the allegations concerning the local resident and the circumstances in which the road blockade was organised.
Police arrest 18 accused in connection with attack
Tripura Police have arrested 18 people in connection with the assault. By November 7, the number of arrests had reached 18 after eight additional people were taken into custody during the latest round of action.
All 18 accused were sent to judicial custody as the investigation continued.
The police are examining the events that led to the confrontation, the alleged roles of those involved and the circumstances in which the BSF personnel were attacked.
The case has also drawn attention to security arrangements in villages located close to the international border, where law enforcement agencies regularly deal with concerns involving smuggling and other cross-border activities.
Tripura steps up border village verification
Following the incident, the state government stepped up security measures in the border region. Chief Minister Manik Saha chaired a security review, after which joint teams comprising the BSF, Tripura Police and Revenue Department officials began verification drives in villages across Sepahijala district.
During the exercise, officials have been checking land records, property documents and residential details. Some individuals suspected of having entered India illegally were also taken to a local police station for questioning and identity verification.
However, their nationality and legal status have not yet been established through the prescribed process. The verification exercise is intended to examine the relevant records and establish the facts before any further action is taken.
Authorities are also looking into suspected encroachments on government land and strengthening vigilance against cross-border smuggling and other illegal activities.
The joint exercise reflects the administration’s wider focus on monitoring border villages and improving coordination between security and civil authorities.
Attack raises wider concerns over security personnel’s safety
The assault on the BSF personnel has brought attention to the challenges faced by security forces while carrying out their duties in sensitive border areas. Although the confrontation reportedly began over a local protest, the alleged use of sticks and bamboo poles against the personnel and the attempt to snatch their firearms have raised serious concerns.
Kher’s remarks have added a public dimension to the incident, with the actor calling for greater sensitivity towards those serving in uniform. His message also highlighted the importance of ensuring that disagreements or protests do not turn into violence against security personnel.
With 18 people arrested and verification drives underway in the district, the investigation is continuing. The authorities will have to establish the individual roles of those involved and examine the circumstances that led to the confrontation.
For Kher, the incident is also a reminder that the dignity of soldiers deserves public attention and respect. His appeal was that violence against personnel protecting the country’s borders should never be accepted as normal.