A suspected Bangladeshi cattle lifter was gunned down allegedly by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along Panchagarh border on Friday morning, said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
The development comes at the time when tension has heightened between the neighbouring countries over the attack on Bangladesh mission in Tripura’s Agartala.
The deceased was identified as Anwar Hossain, son of Rafiqul Islam of Debangarh area under Debangarh union of the district’s Tetulia upazila.
Some villagers, including Anwar, allegedly trespassed into India through Haribhasa union early Friday, said Lt. Col Sheikh Mohammad Badruddoza, commandant of the BGB-56 Battalion in Nilphamari, who visited the spot and talked to the media. Panchagarh falls under the battalion.
The BSF claimed that when the alleged smugglers tried to attack them with weapons, forcing them to retaliate by firing. Anwar died on the spot.
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Later, the BSF took away his body, said the BGB official who talked to his BSF counterpart.
Hearing the sound of firing from the border, the BGB also blank fired, he said.
A flag meeting will be called to bring back the body, the BGB official said, adding that they will formally protest the incident.