Hilli bandh over BDR firing

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 19: Residents of Hilli, a tiny town situated along the India-Bangladesh border in South Dinajpur, observed a six-hour bandh, from 6 am to 12 noon today, protesting against the barbaric act of a BDR man who shot dead Sourav Poddar (27), a resident of Dakshinpara village, yesterday.“We have initiated a murder case against the Bangladeshi border guard,” the South Dinajpur SP, Mr Kalyan Mallick, said. The SP said they would request the BDR authorities to hand over the accused Bangladeshi border guard to India once the investigations complete. “The detailed investigation report would be sent to the Bangladeshi officials via the Indian government”, Mr Mallick, said. Meanwhile, RSP MLA and state jail and social welfare minister, Mr Biswanath Choudhury, has condemned the brutal act of the BDR man. It was learnt that chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would draw the attention of the Bangladesh government via New Delhi about the BDR’s high-handedness in the border areas. Officials said the six-hour Hill bandh observed by the locals passed off peacefully today.Export of various items to Bangladesh via Hilli Land Customs station started after 12 noon today. The BDR officials, however, said Sourav was shot dead by their border guard inside the Bangladesh territory. The BSF officials, on the other hand, said they had enough evidence to substantiate their claim that the BDR man had entered the Indian territory at Dakshinpara village to kill Sourav.Security has been tightened in the India-Bangladesh border at Hill after yesterday’s incident, the BSF officials, said.

Buddha seeks report on Hili
Statesman News Service

KOLKATA, Oct. 19: Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today sought a report from IG (North Bengal) about the incident in which a 26-year-old was shot dead, allegedly by jawans of Bangladesh Rifles near Hilli International border in South Dinajpur on Wednesday morning.“I have asked IG (North Bengal) and the superintendent of police, South Dinajpur as well as BSF’s IG (South Bengal) to submit reports on the incident. I will take the matter up with the Centre after receiving these reports,” said Mr Bhattacharjee at Writers’ Buildings today. Local people alleged that Sourav Pal (27), a resident of Dakshinpara village near Hilli, was shot by BDR jawans as he tried to stop them from pushing two Bangladeshi people into Indian territory around 11 a.m. yesterday. Taken to Balurghat Hospital, Sourav was declared dead.