BSF kills 2, picks up 2 on frontiers

Indian Border Security Force shot dead two Bangladeshi cattle traders and picked up two more persons from the frontiers of Chapainawabganj and Joypurhat on Wednesday.

The two cattle traders early Wednesday went inside an Indian village in Malda district of Pashchimbanga, opposite to Bibhison frontier village of Gomostapur upazila in Chapainawabganj.

 The deceased are Mohammad Masud, 23, of Bibhison village and Shahidul Islam, 28, of Tarapur-Shahapara village in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj, reports our Chapainawabganj correspondent.

 The duo along with a group of traders were returning home around 3:00am from India with cattle while a patrol team of Pilason camp under 31 Malda BSF battalion of Pashchimbanga opened fire on them near pillar No. 219, said Major Sharif Mahmud Hasan, deputy commanding officer of 43 BGB battalion in Naogaon.

Masud and Shahidul died on the spot, some 150 yards inside of Indian Territory while the others escaped unhurt.

The BSF personnel also took away the bodies from the spot.

A company commander-level flag meeting was held at the zero line of Bibhison border at noon where BGB strongly protested the killing and asked the BSF to return the bodies, Major Sharif said.

 The BSF men informed that they would hand over the bodies on completion of some formalities.

Meanwhile, BSF members picked up two Bangladeshis from a border area of Pachbibi upazila in Joypurhat on Wednesday afternoon, a BGB official of Joypurhat-3 Battalion said.

 The BGB identified them as Md Habil Uddin, 22, and Monzu Mia, 40.

The duo was hailed from Purba Usna (Dharanji) village in the upazila, reports our Joypurhat correspondent.

 BGB sources of Hatkhola border outpost of Joypurhat-3 Battalion said the victims were working at their field when a group of BSF of Patiram camp picked them up near 281 main pillar at about 4:00pm.

 BGB sources said that the BSF initially informed them saying the duo entered illegally into Indian Territory.

 The BGB has expressed their concern and sent a protest letter to the BSF.

The BSF was yet to response it.

Lt Col Md Khasru Sabbir, commanding officer of the battalion confirmed the incident saying that they already sent a letter urging to arrange a flag meeting.

On Tuesday, the BSF men also shot dead two Bangladeshi cattle traders on Bujruk border in Haripur upazila of Thakurgaon.

Source:The Daily Star