Body of a girl shot dead by BGB in Unakoti border handed over to Bangladesh authority

The mortal remains of 16-year-old Swarna Das of Bangladesh was handed over by the Border Security Force (BSF) to the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) following a flag meeting between two border guards, held after the post-mortem examination of the deceased.

On Monday in a mysterious incident, the body of a Bangladesh girl, about 16-years-old, was found by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the Indo-Bangladesh border with Unakoti district of Tripura.

Police sources said that the BSF troopers during a routine patrolling found the body of the teenage girl near the Latiapura border outpost in Kailashahar under Unakoti district of Tripura.

The deceased, suspected to be a Bangladeshi national, was found lying approximately 50 meters outside the border fence, in the zero point of the border of the two countries.

Later BSF personnel from the 199 Battalion informed the Irani Police station in Kailashahar.

Senior police officials accompanied by forensic experts went to the spot and in presence of a Magistrate, the body was recovered and sent to Kailashahar District Hospital for post-mortem.

Security forces also confirmed the identity of the victim girl (Swarna Das) is a resident of Juri area under Kulaura Police Station in Moulvibazar district in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Sources said that the girl was shot dead by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops when she illegally entered into the Indian territory.

Official sources said that on Tuesday in a solemn ceremony at the India-Bangladesh international border at Manu Land Customs in Tripura’s Kailashahar under Unakoti district, the mortal remains of 16-year-old Swarna Das was handed over by BSF to its counterpart BGB after a flag meeting.

During the flag meeting, the body of Swarna Das was presented to her father, Farendra Kumar Das, a resident of Juri police station in Moulvibazar district, Bangladesh and her father identified his deceased daughter.  Following this identification, the BSF completed the necessary formalities and handed over the body to the BGB.

Irani police station confirmed the identity and nationality of the deceased and said that Swarna Das was a citizen of Bangladesh, and her father Farendra Kumar Das was present during the handover to the Bangladeshi authorities.

The incident that led to Swarna Das’s death took place on September 2, when she along with her parents attempted to cross the border into India. During this attempt, BGB opened fire resulting in her tragic death. This incident has raised concerns and calls for a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the fatal shooting of the minor girl.

In recent months over 300 Bangladesh nationals who had illegally crossed the border have been arrested by various security agencies including BSF in Tripura.