BSF tortures Bangladeshi to death

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly tortured a Bangladeshi cattle trader to death along Shaljhore border in the district's Bhurungamari upazila early yesterday.

The dead is Abdul Gani, 50, of South Dhaldanga village of the upazila.

Around 5:00am, the BSF men of Jhuloli border outpost in Cooch Behar caught and beat up three Bangladeshi cattle traders who were trying to enter India to bring cattle through the Shaljhore border, said Zia Latiful Islam, officer-in-charge of Bhurungamari Police Station.

Gani died on the spot. His body bore several injury marks, the police official said.

However, Gani's two companions Alauddin, 30, and Rois Uddin, 25, managed to return to Bangladesh. They were undergoing treatment at a clinic in Rangpur, said Asaduzzaman, chairman of Shilikhuri union.

Hearing the incident, camp commander of Shaljhore BOP of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sent a letter to the BSF, protesting the killing and asking for a flag meeting.

Later, two flag meetings were held between the BGB and the BSF near the scene of the incident where Lt Col Jakir Hossain, commanding officer of 45 BGB Battalion in Kurigram, led the Bangladesh side and AK Sing, commander of 98 BSF Battalion in Cooch Behar, led the India side.

In the meetings, the BSF, however, denied the allegation of torturing Gani to death, said the BGB official.

Before the flag meetings, Gani's body was found in Shaljhore village inside Bangladesh, said OC Zia Latiful.

Later, the body was handed over to the relatives of Gani after autopsy, said the police official.

A case was filed in this connection.