Shillong, Dec 20: The Border Security Force (BSF), Meghalaya Frontier on Saturday refuted claims that Khasi villagers had shot and killed two Bangladeshi nationals who entered Indian territory with the intention to steal betel nuts, recently.
“The killings might be linked to gang rivalry within Bangladesh. There’s no evidence suggesting Khasi villagers were involved in the deaths of the Bangladeshi farm thieves,” according to a senior BSF official.
BSF troops are on high alert and borders are sealed due to the tense situation in Bangladesh, a senior official said.
Meghalaya shares a 443 km long boundary with Bangladesh.
“We spoke to the villagers and found no evidence of such an incident. It’s likely an internal issue or gang rivalry within Bangladesh,” the BSF official said.
However, the BSF said that the incident as reported initially by the Bangladesh media was investigated.
According to Bangladesh media, two Bangladeshi infiltrators were shot dead by Khasi villagers inside the Indian territory in Meghalaya near the Companiganj border in Sylhet, Bangladesh, on December 19.
The Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as Mohammad Ashiqur Rahman (19) and Mosaid Ali (22), both residents of Purbo Turung village adjacent to the Damdama border.
As per news reports, according to the Commanding Officer of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) battalion-48 in Sylhet, the shooting took place about 1.5 kilometres inside Indian territory.
He said that Ashiqur was shot by armed Khasi guards near a betel nut plantation while trying to steal betel nuts. He died on the spot, and his body was brought back by his companions later.
Mosaid was shot in a separate incident. He sustained serious injuries and was taken back into Bangladesh territory by his companions. He succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical treatment at Companyganj Upazila Health Complex.
