India’s BSF shoots two dead, injures one in Feni

The dead have been identified as Md Millat Hossain, 21, and Md Liton, 32

File Photo

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has shot dead two Bangladeshi men and injured another in Feni’s Parshuram Upazila.

The incident occurred in the Bashpaduya border area late on Thursday night, according to Lt Col Mosharraf Hossain, commander of BGB Battalion-4 in Feni.

The dead have been identified as Millat Hossain, 21, and Md Liton, 32, both residents of Bashpaduya village in Parshuram.

Md Afsar, 31, was injured in the incident and is also from the same village.

The bodies have been recovered and taken to the Feni General Hospital morgue.

According to the BGB, Millat, Liton, and Afsar crossed border pillar 2164/3-S under the Guthuma BOP and entered Indian territory near the barbed-wire fence. As they attempted to bring smuggled goods back, they were chased by BSF personnel. The smugglers then threw makeshift weapons at the BSF. The BSF then shot them.

While Millat an Afsar managed to flee across the border back to Bangladesh, Liton remained on the Indian side of the border. BSF personnel subsequently took Liton to a hospital in Belonia, where he died on Friday morning.

Locals subsequently rescued Millat and Afsar in critical condition and took them to Parshuram Upazila Health Complex.

They were later transferred to Feni General Hospital for advanced treatment. Millat died on the way, while Afsar is undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Locals say the Guthuma border is a known route for smuggling from India, with frequent crossings of drugs and Indian goods. It is suspected that the men had crossed the barbed-wire fence to receive smuggled goods.

“Three men crossed the Bangladesh border into India to bring back smuggled goods,” said BGB Lt Col Mosharraf Hossain. “We are speaking to the BSF to return the body of the deceased Liton from the Belonia hospital.”

He added that a protest note will be sent to the BSF regarding the incident.