Agartala, Oct 12 (TIWN / IANS) The Border Security Force (BSF) handed over three jawans of Bangladesh's elite Rapid Action battalion (RAB) and two women of that country to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after they trespassed into the Indian territory, a BSF official said on Saturday.

The official said that as a goodwill gesture in view of the Co-ordinated Border Management Plan between India and Bangladesh, the BSF after a flag meeting handed over the two women and three personnel of intelligence wing of 11th battalion RAB to BGB. 

"The RAB personnel along with two Bangladeshi women illegally entered into the Indian territory in Sonamura (western Tripura) on Thursday night to detain an Indian and a Bangladeshi drug smuggler. Indian Villagers captured all the five intruders and handed them over to BSF," the official said.  During physical search of the three RAB personnel, the BSF jawans recovered a loaded pistol, seven mobile phone sets, Bangladeshi currencies of Taka 1,52,412, two hand cuffs and identity cards.  The official also said that the BSF would lodge a strong protest with BGB soon about the illegal intrusion. 

The northeastern state of Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh in all three sides and shares 856 km borders with that country.  Over 92 per cent of the 856 km India-Bangladesh frontiers with Tripura is fenced.