BSF members open fire to save lives: DG of BSF

Director General of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Rajni Kant Mishra said, the incidents of increased killing in Bangladesh and Indian border are unexpected. When Bangladeshi smugglers attack Indian jawans with knives and stones then the killings happen. In fact BSF members open fire to save their lives.

He said these in response to a question of newsmen at a press conference on the last day of three days long Director General level meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Security Force (BSF) at BGB Pilkhana headquarters in the capital on Saturday.

In the press conference the DG of BSF said, total 16 killings happened in the border areas from January to May of the current year. Still seven months are remaining. But in the earlier years the killings were in downward trend. Last year only one Bangladeshi was killed in BSF firing. But it has increased in this year. Our effort will continue to reduce border killings and to put emphasize on using non-lethal weapons by the jawans. So that border killings can be reduced at zero level.

After Myanmar, yaba consignments are coming through Indian border, in this regard the BSF chief said, yabas are coming from a third country. India is not involved in yaba smuggling. Rather, recently two women from Bangladesh intruded in Tripura with yaba and were caught by local people. The home minister of Bangladesh was informed about the matter.

In the meeting BGB chief Brigadier General Shafin Ahmed said, the both forces have agreed for not sheltering the terrorists. Discussions were held on different issues between the two forces. Emphasis has been given on bringing down the border killing at zero level. Discussions were also held to prevent smuggling, arms and gold smuggling and forged money.

Mentionable, it was the 48^th conference between BGB and BSF. The 10-member Indian representative team and 19-member Bangladesh representative team took part in the meeting.

AH