Habiganj, Aug 31 (V7N) — A Bangladeshi youth was killed in a shooting near the Chimtibil border area of Chunarughat upazila in Habiganj on Sunday, with his family alleging that he was shot by India's Border Security Force (BSF). Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), however, said the youth was killed by pellet gunfire allegedly fired by Indian smugglers after he had crossed into Indian territory.

The deceased was identified as Sohag Mia, son of Shafik Mia, a resident of the Chimtibil border area.

According to his uncle Abdul Kadir, Sohag had gone to the border area on Sunday morning, as he reportedly did regularly, to take care of cattle. The family alleged that BSF personnel suddenly opened fire on him.

When Sohag could not be found, family members and relatives began searching for him in the border area. They later found him lying on the ground and brought him to Chunarughat Upazila Health Complex.

Doctors at the health complex examined him and declared him dead.

Dr Sirajum Munira, the duty doctor at the health complex, said Sohag had died before he was brought to the hospital.

However, the BGB presented a different account of the incident.

In a statement, the Habiganj Battalion of BGB said Sohag and several others had crossed the zero line and entered Indian territory. According to BGB, the group had gone there to bring back cattle.

BGB said the group subsequently became involved in a dispute with Indian smugglers and that the smugglers opened fire with pellet guns, seriously injuring Sohag. His companions then brought him back to Bangladesh, where he died while receiving treatment.

BGB's 55 Battalion also said that some members of Sohag's family were allegedly involved in smuggling and that several cases had been filed against them at a local police station.

BGB commander Lt Col Tanzilur Rahman said the incident took place about one kilometre inside Indian territory from the zero line. He said BGB initially suspected that Sohag had been killed in BSF firing, but after communicating with the BSF, the force denied having fired the shots.

According to BGB, the incident may have stemmed from a dispute between the Bangladeshi group and Indian smugglers.

Chunarughat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Islam confirmed Sohag's death and said the exact cause of death would be established after a post-mortem examination.

Police subsequently took the body into custody and completed the necessary legal procedures. The body is expected to be handed over to the family after the post-mortem and other formalities are completed.

The conflicting accounts from Sohag's family and BGB have raised questions over who fired the fatal shots and what exactly happened inside the border area.

Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the death would become clearer after the investigation and post-mortem examination.

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