Indian Border Security Force shot dead two Bangladeshi cattle traders and injured two others on Putkhali border in Benapole, Jessore, early yesterday.
The deceased are Habibur Rahman Habib, 25, of Baropota village and Faruk Hossain, 26, of Basatpur Colony, in Benapole. A group of seven to eight cattle traders was returning home with a herd of cows when BSF members of Angrail camp shot at them at the border crossing point around 12:30am, said Shafi Uddin, commander of Bangladesh Border Guard’s 23 Putkhali Camp.
Habib died on the spot while three others of the group, including Faruk, received bullet injuries. The fellow traders carried Habib’s body to his home and took Faruk to Jessore Medical College Hospital. Faruk died around 3:00am, minutes after he was taken to the facility. The commander said he was yet to get word about the other two injured who were in Indian territory.
Benapole port police sent the two bodies to Jessore Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsies. Lt Col Tayeful Haque, commanding officer of BGB 23 Battalion, confirmed the deaths, adding that they had sent a letter to the BSF in protest at the killings. Ain O Salish Kendra, a rights organisation, expressed concern over the incident. It called on the authorities concerned to step up diplomatic efforts to put an end to such killings.
Source: The Daily Star, 13/06/2013: http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/bsf-kills-2-bangladeshis-2/