Kolkata 17 October: The incident in which a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed and another injured on Thursday after a Bangladeshi border guard fired from his AK-47 rifle during a ‘flag meeting’ along the international border of the two countries in Murshidabad, has raised several concerns about the security of the BSF Jawans along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Vijay Bhan Singh, 50 year old succumbed after suffering bullet injuries on his head as BGB soldiers opened fire at a boat carrying Jawans at Kakmarichar border post in Murshidabad. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead by the doctors .
Here is a tweet from BSF
According to the BSF statement five BSF personnel went towards the spot in the water channel of River Padma near boundary pillar 75/7-S, in a speed boat to conduct flag meeting with BGB to get three Indian fishermen released. The fishermen had been allowed to do fishing within the international border.
Around 10.30 a.m. during a flag meeting on Thursday BGB party commander informed that they can release Indian fishermen after getting orders from their headquarters.
The BSF jawans waited for considerable time. During flag meeting BGB patrol did not release one Indian fisherman. While the Jawans were heading back, firing from the Bangladesh side injured Vijay Bhan in his head and Rajbir Singhon the right wrist. The injured Jawans were evacuated to nearest medical facility where Vijay Bhan Singh succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead. Rajbir Singh was taken to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital in Behrampore for treatment.
The BSF statement mentioned around 9 am BSF troops approached BGB personnel towards the international border to hold a flag meeting and resolve an issue linked to Indian fishermen. The BGB personnel held three Indian fishermen, who were fishing within the International Border, that runs through the middle of the 3-km-wide Padma river. BGB team later allowed two fishermen to go and informed the BSF troops that the third person has been apprehended. Then, a six-member BSF personnel left on a motor-boat to resolve the issue.
During the flag meeting, the BSF troops sensed that BGB personnel had no plan of releasing the Indian fisherman. The BSF troops decided to return immediately. The BGB troop then opened fired at the BSF boat.
Senior officers of BSF said that it was an unfortunate incident. They said that the BGB have already accepted their mistake and talks were on between the regional head of BSF and his counterpart in BGB.
RPS Jaiswal DIG BSF said: “We have already lodged an FIR. An internal inquiry has been ordered into the matter to find out what prompted the BGB soldier to open fire on the Jawan.”
Security has been beefed up across the border following the incident.