Bangladeshi youth shot dead inside Indian territory

A Bangladeshi citizen was "shot dead" and another injured today inside Indian territory near Utma border in Sylhet's Companiganj upazila.

The deceased was identified as Md Babul Hossain (20) of Lamagram village in the upazila, while the injured -- Md Koyes Miah (20), of the same village -- is on the run.

The incident occurred around noon today when the two entered around 800 metres inside Indian territory to steal pineapples from an Indian Khasi village, said Lt Col Ahmed Yusuf Jamil, commanding officer of 48-BGB Battalion in Sylhet.

"Seeing them, Khasi people of the village fired at them with local firearms, leaving one dead and one other injured," the BGB commanding officer said.

"The body was recovered and sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for autopsy. The injured has been on the run since returning to Bangladesh," he also said.

"We are vigilant at the border and continuing awareness campaigns among locals. We urge all in the bordering area not to risk their lives by entering Indian territory," Lt Col Jamil added.

So far, five Bangladeshi nationals were killed in Sylhet either by Indian Khasi citizens from bordering villages or Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in the last three months.