439 Bangladeshis killed by BSF in 5 years

"The people in Bangladesh frontier areas always live in panic," Odhikar said, adding that at least 439 Bangladeshis have been killed by BSF and Indian intruders in last four years and 10 months upto August 10 this year. Those killed were mostly farmers.

During this period, another 374 Bangladeshis were injured, 443 arrested and 496 kidnapped. Besides, 82 people, including eight children, were missing and seven women raped. Some 40 incidents of snatching and plundering occurred during this time.

In its report, Odhikar said BSF and Indian intruders shot dead the farmers while they were cultivating their lands and took away the bodies across the border. "Sometimes, BSF members kidnapped farmers and killed them inside India."

The HR body noted that despite flag meetings at BOP Company Commander level and director general of BDR and BSF level, there has not been any remedy found for the "extra-judicial killings and violation of human rights".

It said some 83 Bangladeshis were killed, 128 wounded, 14 arrested, 100 kidnapped, 31 missing, 2 women raped and 8 incidents of looting occurred this year until August 10.

Odhikar demanded an international inquiry into continued intrusion by the Indian BSF men, killing and kidnapping Bangladeshi nationals and push-in incidents. It also urged the Indian government to stop the orgy of killing by their border guards.