False and unverified reports in sections of the Bangladeshi media have triggered confusion and security concerns in Meghalaya, with Indian authorities firmly rejecting claims that murder suspects from Bangladesh are hiding in the border state. Meghalaya Police and the BSF say there is no evidence of any illegal border crossing or presence of the accused in India, calling the reports misleading and baseless.
False and fabricated reports circulating in sections of the Bangladeshi media are creating confusion among the public and risk disturbing peace in Meghalaya, a sensitive border state that frequently deals with cross-border crimes and security challenges, Hindustan Times reported citing senior security officials on Sunday.
Officials stressed that cooperation with Dhaka Police is ongoing, but there is no evidence at this stage to suggest that the suspects are in the custody of Meghalaya authorities. Intelligence assessments indicate that the two may have used informal border routes in the Haluaghat–South Garo Hills sector, an area commonly exploited by economic migrants and smugglers.
Meghalaya Police reject Bangladeshi claims
Senior officials at the Meghalaya Police headquarters rejected claims from Bangladesh that two accused in the murder of Osman Hadi — Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh — had fled into India through the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh district and were currently hiding in Meghalaya.
The claim, published by a prominent Bangladeshi daily quoting Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials, was termed “untruthful” and “completely false” by Indian authorities.
Report deny suspects identified in India
Top Indian intelligence officials told CNN-News18 that there is no official confirmation that the two prime suspects in the killing of Inqilab Moncho leader and Dhaka-8 aspirant Sharif Osman Hadi are in Indian custody or have been identified on Indian soil. The report said the inputs shared with Dhaka so far are based on border-movement indicators and intercepted facilitator inputs, not on any physical apprehension of the suspects.
No communication received from Dhaka Police
“No formal or informal communication has been received from Bangladesh police. None of the accused named in the report have been traced in the Garo Hills region, and no arrests have been made,” a senior Meghalaya Police official told HT.
Alleged local facilitators also denied
The report had alleged that the accused were assisted by local facilitators — a person named Purti, who was said to have received them after crossing the border, and Sami, described as a taxi driver who allegedly transported them to Tura.
Meghalaya Police dismissed these claims, saying no intelligence input, ground verification or operational evidence exists to support either the alleged border crossing or the involvement of the individuals named.
“Neither Purti nor Sami has been identified, traced or arrested anywhere in Meghalaya. The narrative appears to have been constructed without verification or coordination with Indian authorities,” the police headquarters official said.
BSF rejects claims of illegal border crossing
Backing the police position, Border Security Force (Meghalaya Frontier) Inspector General OP Upadhayay also rejected the claims. “There is no evidence whatsoever of these individuals crossing the international border from the Haluaghat sector into Meghalaya. No such incident has been detected or reported by the BSF. These claims are baseless and misleading,” he said.
Upadhayay added that the BSF operates strictly on verified intelligence and established border management protocols.
Officials flag pattern of misinformation
Officials said this was not an isolated instance of misinformation. About two weeks ago, another report in Bangladeshi media had falsely claimed that the BSF shot dead two Bangladeshi infiltrators, an allegation that was later categorically denied by Indian authorities after verification.
Despite rejecting the current claims, Meghalaya Police said border vigilance has been increased as a precautionary measure. Intelligence sources have been activated and coordination with the BSF strengthened to prevent any possible misuse of border routes by criminal elements.
“Enhanced security is a standard preventive step and should not be misconstrued as confirmation of false claims,” a police official said.
Both Meghalaya Police and the BSF reiterated their willingness to cooperate with Bangladeshi authorities but stressed that any action would be taken only on verified information shared through formal channels, underlining that narratives cannot replace facts.
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