Two Bangladeshi youths were shot dead by Indian Khasis near the Sylhet border on Friday, according to local administration officials, police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
The incident occurred around noon at the Damdama border under Uttar Ranikai Union of Companiganj upazila in Sylhet.
The victims were identified as Ashiqur Rahman, 19, son of Buran Uddin, and Moshaeed Ali, 22, son of late Rab Mia. Both were residents of Purba Turung village near the Damdama border.
According to BGB and police sources, Ashiqur Rahman was shot at a place called Paraihat, about 600 yards inside Indian territory near Sub-Pillar No. 2 of the Damdama-1260 main pillar, while he had gone there to collect firewood.
Later, his relatives recovered his body and brought it back to Bangladesh. The body has been kept at the Companiganj Upazila Health Complex.
Around the same time, Moshaeed Ali was shot dead by Khasis near the Radan area, close to the border on the Indian side. His body is currently in the custody of India’s Border Security Force (BSF) at the Toka camp.
Sources said BSF personnel informed BGB that one Bangladeshi national had been killed.
Companiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam, citing BGB sources, confirmed that two Bangladeshi youths were killed by gunfire from across the border. He said efforts were under way through discussions with the BSF to bring Moshaeed’s body back to Bangladesh.
