Student killed in BSF firing along Indo-Bangla border

Cooch Behar (WB), Dec 26: A college student was killed on Friday night, Dec 25, after BSF jawans patrolling the India-Bangladesh international border in the Changrabandha area of the district, allegedly opened fire.

Tapan Burman, a second year student of Changrabandha College and a resident of Kamath-Changrabandha area had gone to attend to nature's call along the barbed wire fencing of the international border, when patrolling BSF jawans, "suspecting" him of trying to cut the fencing, allegedly opened fire, a senior police officer of Mekhliganj police station said.

"As soon as the news of the shooting and Tapan's death reached the village, angry residents poured out in protest and clashed with the BSF jawans.

"At this point, the jawans again opened fire, seriously injuring two villagers, who were rushed to Jalpaiguri Sadar Hospital. Five others who were also injured in the clash, have been admitted to Changrabandha hospital," the officer said.

The villagers alleged of regular BSF highhandedness and also accused the jawans of damaging their houses and property, the officer said adding, a police team has already reached the spot and investigations were on. BSF officials in the area refused to comment on the incident.

PTI