Staff Reporter :
The Border Security Force [BSF] of India has conveyed the message to Border Guard Bangladesh that trial revision of Felani Khatun killing would be held, if the victim’s family is aggrieved with the judgment of lower court.
The above comments were made by BSF Director General Devendra Pathak in a joint media interaction with BGB Director General Major General Aziz Ahmad in New Delhi on Thursday, said a press release issued by BGB.
The both DGs were briefing the newsmen after conclusion of three-day high-level talks between the two border forces which had begun on August 3.
About Felani issue, the BSF DG informed the BGB DG that the verdict pronounced by the lower court is still not approved by him. So, if the family of Felani is aggrieved with the judgment and informs it to BGB, the BSF will then hold a retrial with constituting a new court comprising of new judges.
In this regard, the BGB would give all out support after consultation with Felani’s father and their counsel.
Earlier, the BSF special court issued ruling acquitting lone accused BSF Constable Amiyo Ghosh. The BSF soldier was acquitted in both the first and the retrial in the killing of Felani who was shot dead at border near Choudhuryhat outpost in Cooch Behar of West Bengal in January 2011.
Felani’s father Nur Islam, the only witness of the incident, has already rejected the verdict of the retrial and sought Bangladesh government’s help in an appeal against the BSF court’s ruling.
The Felani issue, however, was not on the official agenda of BSF-BGB DG-level talks.
But the issues, like Bangladeshi people killing in the border, drug smuggling, human trafficking, rams dealing and illegal trespassing were in the agenda during the breakfast session and other formal sessions.
On the issue of border killing, both sides reiterated their commitment to bring it down to zero level. “The BGB would identify the areas, particularly the border outposts, where such killings take place. We will also carry out coordinated patrolling with BSF to tackle the problem,” Major General Aziz Ahmad said.
“The BGB will undertake an awareness campaign along the vulnerable areas near the border outposts to dissuade Bangladeshis from travelling across the border at night to avoid killings,” he said.
On the other hand, Devendra Pathak said, “BSF usually uses non-lethal weapons along the border to the extent possible and opens fire in self-defence only in extreme situations.”
