3 bullet-hit in BDR raid in Satkhira

Three people were bullet-hit in a shoot-out during a raid conducted by paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in bordering Harina village under Kolaroa upazila Tuesday night.

Rafiqul Islam, 42, Monsur Ali, 35, and his son Anisur Rahman, 16, who were under the roofs, suffered bullet injuries when the BDR opened fire on a gang of smugglers.

The BDR personnel were chasing the smugglers at around 10:00pm when the gang attacked the BDR men, who also reiterated. The smugglers, however, fled the scene, leaving behind Indian bicycle tyres and tubes reportedly worth Tk 26,000.

BDR Subedar Shahaduzzaman claimed the injured, who are receiving treatment at Satkhira and Khulna General Hospitals, are smugglers. But the villagers refuted the allegation.

The BDR again raided Harina yesterday morning and beat up many villagers, saying they are involved in smuggling. As most of the men went into hiding, the BDR threatened the women to raze their houses unless they surrender the men.

The BDR, however, denied any assault on the villagers.