According to newspaper reports compiled by Odhikar, a human rights organisation, BSF have shot dead at least 293 people since October 2001.

At least 315 Bangladeshis were injured in BSF firing during the period. Some 438 Bangladeshis were arrested, 440 kidnapped, 56 including 8 children went missing and six women were raped during the period, said the Odhikar report.

It said the fate of those kidnapped was not known. Besides, 36 incidents of mugging and looting by BSF backed Indian trespassers took place during the time.

The highest number of incidents occurred in 2002 when 105 Bangladeshis were killed in BSF firing.

Killing by the BSF is on the rise despite assurance by BSF chief in occasional meetings with his BDR counterpart of maintaining peace along the 4,500km porous border.

The report said at least 35 Bangladeshi nationals were killed in the first four months of this year. Some 69 others were injured, 9 arrested, 46 abducted, five remained missing, one woman was violated and two incidents of looting took place during the period.

At least 104 people were killed and 66 injured in BSF firing during the last year. Some 78 Bangladeshis were abducted, 14 went missing, three women were raped and four incidents of looting took place during the year.