Indian Citizen Killed in BSF Firing at Kurigram Border

An Indian citizen was shot and killed by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Kurigram border on Thursday morning. The BSF claimed that the deceased was a smuggler and was shot while allegedly attempting to cross into Bangladesh with contraband goods.

According to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the incident occurred in Marakuti (Bhoram Poyosti), India, about 200 yards from the zero line near the third sub-pillar of international border pillar number 929. The victim was identified as Jahanur Alam (24), son of Kabidul Islam, a resident of Voram Poyosti village in Gidaldah, Cooch Behar district, India.

Local sources reported that a group of Indian smugglers attempted to enter Bangladesh with goods early in the morning. BSF personnel from the Bharbanda camp opened fire, firing at least six rounds. Jahanur Alam was hit by a bullet and fell into a pond, where he died. The other members of the group managed to flee. The gunfire created panic among local residents along the border.

Following the incident, the Gorakhmandal BGB camp intensified patrolling in the area. A flag meeting was held between the BGB and BSF from 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM to discuss the situation. The meeting was led by Nayek Subedar Firoz of the Gorakhmandal BGB camp and Girish Chandra, commander of the Bharbanda Gidaldaha BSF camp under the 3rd BSF battalion.

After the meeting, BSF personnel recovered Jahanur Alam’s body from the scene at around 10 AM. Later, at 11 AM, Lt. Colonel Mehdi Imam, commander of the 15th BGB battalion in Lalmonirhat, visited the area and provided further clarification.

Quoting the BSF, Lt. Colonel Imam stated, "A group of Indian nationals attacked a BSF patrol post early in the morning. In self-defense, the BSF fired rubber bullets, which resulted in one fatality. This incident is an internal matter of India, and Bangladesh or the BGB have no involvement in it. However, we remain on high alert at the border."