Father, uncle testify before Indian court

The file photo shows the hanging body of Bangladeshi girl Felani at the barbed wire fence at Anantapur border point in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram.

The father and the uncle of Bangladeshi girl Felani Khatun, who was shot dead by Indian Border Security Force in 2011, started giving depositions before an Indian court in the trial of the murder on Monday.

A special court, set up by BSF General Security Force in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, began recording their testimonies around 10:00am.

The court is trying Amiya Ghosh, a constable of Indian Border Security Force, after the the Indian force submitted the charge sheet against him following an investigation into the killing.

On January 7, 2011, the 15-year-old girl was shot dead by a BSF member when she along with her father was scaling the barbed wire fence at Anantapur border point in Phulbari upazila, Kurigram, on their way back to Bangladesh.

The Indian court will continue recording the depositions of Felani’s father Nurul Islam and uncle Abdul Hanif till Tuesday.

Nurul Islam, Hanif and their accompanied team from Bangladesh have been taken to the court from circuit house amid tight security by BSF personnel.

They went to the Indian town through Burimari-Chengrabandha Land Port in Lalmonirhat Sunday afternoon.

Kurigram Public Prosecutor SM Abraham Lincoln and Commander of 45 Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh Lt Col Ziaul Haque Khaled have been accompanying them.

The prosecutor will assist the witnesses at the court.

Following widespread demands to bring to book the person responsible for her death, the Indian authorities started the trial on August 13.