BSF kills cattle trader

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) yesterday shot dead a Bangladeshi cattle trader near the bordering area of Aditmari upazila in the district.

The incident took place around 5:00am inside Indian territory near border pillar 924/8 at Chawratari village in Durgapur union as the victim -- Asadul Islam, 32, son of Abul Hossain from the same village -- was entering into Bangladesh with Indian cattle, said sources at the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

The BSF took possession of the corpse and moved it away inside India. They did not return the corpse till yesterday afternoon.

The victim died on the spot when he and three other cattle traders from Bangladesh were chased and shot by a patrol team of 100 BSF Battalion from Singimari camp, said sources at the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). 

The three other traders accompanying the victim managed to flee unhurt and were able cross into Bangladesh along with all 20 cattle they had with them, the sources added.

Lt Col Ahmed Bazlur Rahman Hayati, commanding officer of 15 BGB Battalion in Lalmonirhat, said they sent a letter to BSF, formally protesting the killing and demanding the body of the Bangladeshi be returned.

In a reply message, the BSF said they would conduct an autopsy of the corpse and hand it over to the BGB during a bilateral flag meeting, he added.