BSF’s firearms returned after clash with villagers in Rajshahi border

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) returned two firearms to Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at Nirmalchar border of Rajshahi's Godagari upazila yesterday afternoon.

Last morning, BSF members and three Indian civilians entered Bangladesh territory and got locked into clashes with Bangladeshi villagers, said BGB.

Eventually, the BSF members and the Indian civilians backtracked leaving their weapons behind, BGB officials and locals said.

BGB returned the firearms -- a rifle and a submachine gun -- in the afternoon, said Lt Col Sabbir Ahmed, commanding officer of Battalion No 1 of BGB.

According to the BGB battalion chief, the incident ensued last morning when BSF and Indian civilians prevented grazing of buffaloes by some locals in Nirmalchar.

The altercation led to the BSF members entering Bangladesh territory with three Indian civilians and brutally assaulted three Bangladeshi nationals, the BGB official said.

The injured include, Firoz, 30, and Babu, 32.

Informed by the locals, BGB members went to the scene and recovered the weapons, he said.

"We lodged a strong protest against the illegal intrusion [of BSF members into Bangladesh]," Lt Col Sabbir Ahmed said, adding that a battalion commander-level flag meeting was held between the two forces.

In the meeting held on Sunday afternoon, BGB officials warned BSF to not intrude into Bangladesh in future to avoid such incident, he said.

BSF officials informed the meeting that two of their members were injured in the clash with the locals at Nirmalchar, Lt Col Ahmed said.