BGB shoots Indian man dead

An Indian "smuggler" was shot dead by the members of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) in Mymenshingh's Halaughat upazila early yesterday, said BGB.

The man was identified as Thedian Momin, 45, of India's South Garo Hills, said police.

Mahmudul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Haluaghat Police Station, said a group of eight smugglers intruded into the upazila's Suryapur Dumnikura area at midnight.

Sensing their presence, a BGB patrol team of Suryapur Camp started chasing them. While fleeing, one of the smugglers threw a sharp cutter to BGB members. One of them was injured.

In retaliation, BGB opened fire on them. One of the "smugglers" sustained bullet wounds and died on the spot around 4:15am, the OC added.

On information, he said, police went to the spot, recovered the body and sent it to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police recovered the victim's Indian national ID card, 260 pieces of yaba tablets, 12 bottles of wine and two sharp cutters from the spot.

Lt Col Tauhid Mahmud, commanding officer of 39th BGB Battalion, Mymensingh, confirmed the incident.

Meanwhile, a flag meeting was held at No Man's Land near Gubrakura Land Port in Haluaghat upazila of Mymensingh this afternoon regarding the killing.

A 15-member delegation led by Col KN Tripathi, commandant of 55th Border Security Force (BSF) Battalion, joined the meeting while Commanding officer of BGB-39 Battalion, Mymensingh Lt Col Tauhid Mahmud led a delegation of the same for Bangladesh side, said Lt Col Tauhid Mahmud.

In 35-minute meeting, both the sides agreed to combat terrorist groups in the borders of Bangladesh and India and hoped to work in friendly atmosphere, said the official.

The body will be handed over after completing all legal procedures, the official informed.