BSF video of jumbos crossing Indo-Bangladesh border goes viral

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, May 18

‘Mama nikal raha hai’ is how a BSF jawan alerts his colleagues when he sees a herd of elephants cross the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya to provide a safe passage to the animals to cross the fence.

Captured in a video, the BSF jawan can be heard as saying: “Charlie 39 to control, Mama aa raha hai, chhota ya bada victor koi bhi abhi mat bhejna.”

Posted on social media by BSF India, the caption posted alongside the video reads, “Sentry on duty announcing the entry of a herd of elephants, across fence. Free roaming Gajraj (respectfully called “Mama”) rules the jungles along international boundary in Garo hills of Meghalaya.”

Elephants in the forests of Garo Hill region in the northeast perhaps do not understand the boundary between the two countries and often cross from one side to another.

The video that has gone viral shows how elephants break the barbed wire boundary to cross into Indian territory. The BSF jawan watching the herd warns on the wireless that “mama nikal rahe hain.” The elephants are revered in this region and respectfully called “mama” (maternal uncle).