bdnews24.com :Felani’s father Nurul Islam Nuru has rejected the Indian General Security Forces Court’s decision to maintain the absolution of BSF trooper Amiya Ghose of murder charges.He told bdnews24.com on Friday morning: “The Indian government made a mockery of us in the name of trials.”The BSF has not formally announced the GFSC verdict upholding the previous inquiry court verdict as it needs clearance of its Director General.But BSF sources and counsel of Felani’s family told bdnews24.com that the GFSC has found Ghose not guilty after extensive deliberations on Thursday night.”I reject this verdict. Amiya Ghose should have hanged.” Nuru, who hails from Banar Bhita village of South Ramkhana Union under Kurigram’s Nageshwari Upazila, lived in Delhi for 10 years. His daughter Felani Khatun also stayed with him.When they were trying to cross back from India after her marriage was settled in Bangladesh, her clothing got caught in the barbwire fence and BSF shot her dead when she screamed in terror.Her dead body was left hanging on the border fence for several hours in January 2011 and caused a huge furore after photos of her in that state was published in the media.In face of pressure from the Bangladesh government, rights organisations and international community, India opened investigations against the BSF for the killing.On 6 June 2013, the initial court of inquiry had acquitted Ghose of the murder charges and found him not guilty.The verdict drew tremendous flak and the BSF director general ordered a fresh look at the case in September last year. Felani’s father went to India’s Cooch Behar twice to testify in the trials. “I will again appeal for proper trial,” he told bdnews24.com.Kurigram Judges Court Public Prosecutor Abraham Lincoln, who provided legal assistance to Felani’s family, told bdnews24.com: “This verdict raised questions about India’s judicial system.”Due to this verdict, BSF will become more desperate about border killings. This would create a crisis in border management.”He also commented that the verdict contradicts with the concepts of human rights and justice. Kurigram BGB Director Lt Col Zakir Hossain refused to comment on the issue. “We did not officially get the verdict yet. When we do, senior authorities will decide.”West Bengal’s human rights group MASUM, which had closely followed the trial, has rubbished the GFSC verdict. Its chief Kirity Roy has described the verdict as ‘pre-meditated’ and said the BSF had decided to protect their own trooper at any cost.
