Border Guard Bangladesh and Border Security Force of India on Monday decided to conduct joint probe into each incident of border killings while the BSF chief claimed that killing and firing of ‘Bangladesh cattle smugglers’ in the border took place when BSF soldiers use ‘minimum force’ in ‘self defence.’
The decision was made at the 42nd director general-level talks between the two border forces in Dhaka, director general Major General Aziz Ahmed said at a briefing after the signing of the joint-record of discussions at the border guard headquarters.
BSF chief Krishna Kumar Sharma, however, claimed, ‘Our men in the field are compelled, beyond reasons under life threatening circumstances to resort, to use of minimum force in self defence.’
He said that 447 Bangladeshi ‘cattle smugglers’ had been captured by BSF during cattle smuggling since August 2015 and 363 ‘deadly attacks’ on BSF had resulted in deaths of three BSF
rankers since January 2015.
He, however, regretted ‘unfortunate death’ of school student Shehab Uddin, a resident of Goalpara of Jibannagar in Chuadanga.
Shehab, 16, was shot at point-blank range at about 10:30am on May 14 when the BSF chief and its delegation were visiting Bangladesh to attend the six-day talks.
The boy was shot dead when he, along with few friends, was plucking mangoes from bordering orchard in the morning.
KK Sharma said that an assistant commander and six rankers were suspended after a preliminary investigation into the killing.
He said that a staff court of inquiry was immediately constituted to investigate in what circumstances the Bangladeshi national sustained injury and later died.
He, however, avoided question on whether he felt insulted as the killing took place during his visit in Bangladesh.
He also declined to reply queries on trial of the murder of Bangladeshi girl Felani Khatun, 13, saying that it was ‘sub judice,’
Felani was shot dead by BSF personnel in Anantapur border at Phulbari upazila in Kurigram on January 7, 2011, when she was returning home crossing barbed-wire fences erected by India.
BSP constable Amiyo Ghosh was identified for killing the teen from point black range.
Aziz Ahmed said that the matter was moved to Indian Supreme Court by some NGOs and BSF would wait for disposal of the petition by the Supreme Court.
About Shehab murder, ‘the border guard chief said, ‘Such killing is no way acceptable, but it is the question whether we are bypassing it or addressing the incident.’
He said, ‘If action is taken following the court of inquiry, then it will help curb the killing.’
He said both the sides discussed how the border killing could decrease to zero level especially by stopping cattle trade.
He said both the border forces agreed to carry out joint probe into each incident of border killings.
‘When any incident will take place, a joint investigation will be carried out,’ Aziz said.
According to Bangladesh home ministry, 109 Bangladeshi civilians were killed by BSF in the borders between January 2012 and April 2016. Besides, border guards handed over 423 Indian citizens, who were picked up while crossing border, to BSF.
Aziz said that border guards would procure non-lethal weapons and horses, among others, from India.
Source: New Age
