Felani trial verdict not final

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has urged all to wait for the final outcome of the Felani trial as its spokesperson said “this is only the first step”.

In response to the special court’s verdict that found the India's Border Security Force (BSF) troop not guilty of murder, the spokesperson told bdnews24.com that “This is subject to review by a competent authority”.

“We should wait for the final outcome.”

Felani was shot dead by BSF personnel on Jan 7, 2011, while trying to cross the barbed-wire fencing near Choudhuryhat.

The killing had provoked huge outrage in both Bangladesh and India as her body was seen left hanging from the fence for quite a while.

A five-man BSF General Security Forces court, headed by its Assam-Meghalaya frontier DIG (Communication) SP Trivedi, conducted the hearings at the Sonari BSF camp near the North Bengal town of Cooch Bihar from Aug 13.

BSF's 181 Battalion constable Amiya Ghosh, the prime accused in the killing, was not found guilty because of ‘inconclusive and insufficient’ evidence against him.

Felani's father and relatives testified in the case. A disappointed father, Nurul Islam, told bdnews24.com that they wanted “fair justice”.

West Bengal-based rights group MASUM's Kirity Ray lashed out at the BSF for ‘unleashing a reign of terror’ on the border and said Felani was a victim of it.

“The BSF trial was a sham,” he alleged.

It was the first instance of the BSF trying any of its personnel despite frequent border killings.

Public Prosecutor of the Kurigram district judge’s court SM Abraham Lincoln, who was helping Felani’s family, said it would be ‘very unfortunate’ if the BSF Director General approved this verdict.

“It can encourage the BSF’s mindless attitude, giving the killings legality,” he feared.

He, however, said they would not be able to appeal against the judgment as India filed the case against the BSF personnel and the trial had been conducted in a special court.

“We (Felani’s father and him) don’t have the chance to appeal. But the Bangladesh government or Indian people can create pressure on the Indian government for an appeal”.

BSF lets off Felani killers