A 14-year-old girl from a Hindu minority family in Bangladesh walked 11 km through darkness and fear, crossing the India-Bangladesh border into north Dinajpur to reach her relatives in Jalpaiguri.
However, her journey ended when Border Security Force (BSF) personnel intercepted her shortly after crossing.
The girl, whose father is an ISKCON devotee and a medical representative, was sent to India due to safety concerns. Fearing she might be abducted or harmed in Bangladesh, her father, who is unwell, decided to send her to relatives in India.
She began her journey after lunch, guided briefly by a neighbour who later showed her a path through bamboo groves and paddy fields. With a small bag of clothes and a water bottle, she walked alone.
Darkness and fear surrounded her, but she found courage in her father’s words: “Reaching India is the only way to stay safe.”
After hiding in a paddy field near the border for an hour to avoid Bangladeshi guards, she crossed into India. However, before she could reach her destination, BSF personnel spotted her.
The girl was handed over to local police and later taken to a state-run shelter. Police discovered her father’s plans and contacted her relatives, who confirmed they were informed about her arrival but unaware of the exact timing.
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