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TL;DR
- Swarna Das, a teenage girl from Bangladesh, was shot and killed while attempting to cross the India-Bangladesh border illegally with her mother on September 1, 2024.
- Bangladeshi media reports claim that Swarna was shot by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), while one Indian media source, OpIndia, alleges that she was killed by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
- Bangladesh has lodged a formal protest with the Indian government, condemning the killing of Swarna Das by the BSF and calling it a violation of the Joint Indo-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities, 1975.
- The BSF handed over Swarna’s body to the BGB 45 hours after the incident, and her father stated that she and her mother were attempting to visit his eldest son in Tripura when the shooting occurred.
A tragic incident that has sparked controversy and raised tensions along the India-Bangladesh border, a teenage girl named Swarna Das was shot and killed while attempting to cross the border fence on Sunday night. The incident occurred in the Lalarchak area of Moulvibazar district, Bangladesh, near the border with the Indian state of Tripura.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, Swarna Das, aged between 13 and 16, was allegedly shot by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel as she approached the fence on the Indian side around 9 pm on Sunday. Her parents, who were accompanying her, managed to escape unharmed.
However, Indian media sources have made conflicting claims, alleging that Swarna was shot by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) while trying to cross into India with her parents to escape atrocities. The Times of India reported that BSF sources indicated Swarna was killed by BGB fire near Pillar No. 57 on the border.
The incident has led to a formal protest from Bangladesh, with the country lodging a complaint with the Indian government over the killing of Swarna Das by the BSF. In a statement, the Bangladeshi government said that such incidents are undesirable, unwarranted, and violate border norms.
The BSF handed over Swarna’s body to her family through the BGB 45 hours after the incident, following the completion of necessary formalities. A senior BSF officer confirmed, “Swarna was killed by BGB and after all the formalities, we have handed over her body to the family through BGB in Manu check post on Tuesday.”
Source: The Times of India
The conflicting claims from Indian and Bangladeshi media sources have highlighted the need for a thorough investigation to establish the facts surrounding Swarna Das’ death. The incident has once again brought attention to the ongoing issue of border killings and the necessity for both governments to work together to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The India-Bangladesh border, despite the friendly relations between the two governments, has a lengthy history of violence. The death of Swarna Das has reignited concerns about the safety of civilians living in the border areas and the need for better coordination between the border security forces of both nations to ensure such incidents do not occur.
As the investigation into the incident continues, it is crucial that the truth be uncovered and those responsible for Swarna Das’ death be held accountable. The loss of a young life in such circumstances is a tragedy that underscores the importance of maintaining peace and security along the India-Bangladesh border.