BSF men may have strayed into Bangladesh land by mistake

MANKACHAR, (Indo-Bangla border), April 23: 20 BSF men, who were attacked by Bangladesh rifles (BDR) on Wednesday, might have strayed into Bangladesh territory by mistake due to darkness in the night, according to Border Security Force DIG IJ Singh yesterday, reports PTI. "Twenty BSF men had gone for patrolling at Boroibari as there was red alert because of the situation prevailing along the Dawki border in Meghalaya along Bangladesh," Singh told a group of visiting journalists. He said that the two BSF jawans who had managed to escape from BDR custody had reported to the higher authorities that may be they had strayed in the night into Bangladesh territory when about 500 civilians surrounded them. "BDR men in civil clothes, waiting behind the civilians pounced on them shouting "Dhoro, dhoro, (catch, catch)" in Bengali, and some of them fired also, he said. The 20 BSF men included one officer, two JCO and the rest were jawans, he said. The DIG, however, admitted that it was a blunder that the jawans had strayed into Bangladesh territory. Asked whether they apprehended further attacks, he said, "After this, they (BDR) dare not." Singh said that Bangladesh Army's movement was spotted on April 16 but after the flag meeting they must have probably taken the forces back. Intercepted communication of the BDR say that ammunition was moved from Dhaka to the area and only the Bangladesh Army has mortars which was used to fire into the Indian territory, the DIG said. "We are competent and better off in arms and ammunition in guarding the border," he said, adding that the BSF men are tough and not moved by such incident and they are now ready to fight with more vigour. He said that he held a flag meeting with the BDR sector commander, Mymensingh Inayat Rahim, and lodged a "very strong protest" about the killing and mutilations of the body and a flag meeting was also held today to defuse the tension. The DIG said that deputy commandant Mondal was killed on April 20 itself as his body was fresh.