Anupam Kher condemns attack on BSF jawan in Tripura, questions silence over incident

Anupam Kher slammed the assault on BSF personnel in Tripura and praised the injured jawan's restraint. He also questioned the limited public outrage over the incident. The police have arrested 18 accused in the case.

In Short

• Anupam Kher condemns the assault on BSF personnel in Tripura
• Three BSF jawans were injured in a violent clash with villagers
• 18 people arrested so far, all sent to judicial custody

Actor Anupam Kher has condemned the attack on Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Tripura, expressing anger over the incident and questioning the lack of public outrage over the assault. The actor shared a video on social media in which he praised the restraint shown by the injured personnel, particularly one jawan who did not retaliate despite being assaulted.

Kher also appreciated the action taken against those allegedly involved in the attack, saying violence against security personnel should never be treated as an ordinary occurrence.

Sharing the video, Kher wrote that watching the footage of the assault on a BSF jawan in Tripura had left him both deeply saddened and angry. He added that the video was made in response to those feelings.

In the video, the actor spoke about the need to recognise the human beings behind the uniform and the families who wait for them to return home. He said in Hindi (translated):

"I saw a video in which some people, including women, were mercilessly beating BSF personnel with sticks and fists. They continued to assault one jawan even after knocking him to the ground. To be honest, watching this made my blood boil. It is completely wrong to beat up anyone who is simply doing their job. And when that person is performing his duty to protect our borders and keep us safe, the sight becomes even more painful and infuriating.

These jawans are also someone's children, someone's husbands, brothers and sons. Just because they wear a uniform, please do not treat them as separate from us or leave them to fend for themselves. Every Indian who has even a little love for the country would feel angry after watching this, and they should.

What saddens me is that I did not hear the kind of public outcry and outrage that this incident deserved.

Look, we raise our voices against domestic violence and other forms of abuse, and rightly so. But when we see a jawan being beaten in this manner, where do our compassion and our voices disappear? We should not simply move on, treating such violence as an everyday occurrence. It should never become normal.

We often take it for granted that the jawan standing at the border will protect us. It is also our responsibility to raise our voices in defence of his dignity and respect.

I was glad to learn that strict action had been taken against those involved in this incident. This is not the satisfaction of seeing someone punished out of revenge. It is the reassurance that the brutality inflicted on a jawan has not been ignored and that a clear message has been sent.

And to that jawan, I offer my respects and salute him. Despite enduring such a severe beating, he did not lose his composure or respond with violence, even though he could have. That is the patience and discipline of our soldiers. Along with the strength of the uniform, they also demonstrate remarkable restraint.

That is all I wanted to say. I was angry. Jai Hind."

What happened in Tripura?

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 turned violent.

According to reports, the incident began when villagers blocked a road to protest against the alleged assault of a local resident by BSF personnel. The resident was suspected of being involved in smuggling. The situation escalated when a vehicle carrying three BSF personnel reached the blockade. The group allegedly attacked them with sticks and bamboo poles.

The attackers also allegedly attempted to snatch the personnel's service firearms and damaged a government vehicle. The incident prompted a police investigation, with complaints registered by both the BSF and local villagers at Kalamchoura police station.

18 arrested, police step up verification drive

The Tripura Police subsequently arrested several people in connection with the assault. The number of arrests reached 18 by November 7, with eight more people taken into custody in the latest round of action. All 18 accused were sent to judicial custody as the investigation continued.

The incident also prompted the state government to step up security measures along the border. Following a security review chaired by Chief Minister Manik Saha, teams comprising the BSF, Tripura Police and Revenue Department officials began verification drives in villages across Sepahijala district.

As part of the exercise, officials have been checking land records, property documents and residential details. Some people 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 are yet to be established through the prescribed process.

The authorities are also examining suspected encroachments on government land and strengthening vigilance against cross-border smuggling and other activities in the region.

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