High Commission of India, Dhaka
September 15, 2005
PRESS RELEASE
____________________The attention of the High Commission has been drawn to two series of news reports published in various under the banner “4 Bangladeshis butchered in Agartala” and “Odhikar for international probe into BSF killings in Akhaura”.
2. The High Commission takes serious exception to and totally rejects the basis and authenticity of the reports being periodically released by Odhikar. This organization does not appear to have made any effort to cross check its reports and objectively ascertain the facts of the incidents before publication. It relies entirely on unverified media reports for its data and has never attempted to objectively ascertain the facts in case of any reported incident. The High Commission had on previous occasions issued clarifications on the incidents, which have been entirely ignored. As such, Odhikar’s reports are prejudiced and motivated. Such an unprofessional approach does not meet norms of impartial research and analysis nor does it contribute positively to the promotion of friendly and peaceful India-Bangladesh bilateral relations.
3. This Mission referred to concerned authorities in India with regard to the incidents that took place at Agartala on September 9th 2005. They have clarified that no BSF personnel were involved in the incident, contrary to reports published in the Bangladesh media. The incident actually took place at 0300 hours in the morning. It was an attempted robbery by Bangladeshi nationals inside Indian territory in collusion with an Indian partner. The deaths were due to provocative criminal actions by Bangladeshi persons who had intruded into Indian territory. As such the persons involved in the incident cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be considered as innocent, as they were criminals with well-known records.
4. The facts in the Agartala incident are as under:-
On September 9th 2005, at about 0300 hrs, four criminals/robbers armed with weapons entered the house of one Amlesh Dutta Majumder of Ramnagar Road No. 4, Agartala. They wheeled out his motor-cycle bearing registration number TR-01-E-9637. Seeing this, Amlesh Dutta raised an alarm whereupon the criminals assaulted him and continued to wheel away the vehicle. Other family members then resisted and forced the robbers to flee, leaving behind the motorcycle. A similar incident took place in the house of Shri Ajoy Shome, but there bike lifters again failed as the family members also raised an alarm. On hearing the hue and cry, other inhabitants of the area rushed to the spot and entrapped the robbers. In the ensuing commotion, some of the inhabitants were attacked by the criminals/robbers and sustained injuries. The infuriated villagers thereafter beat-up the criminals who unfortunately succumbed. Subsequently the four dead bodies of these criminals were recovered. The four deceased criminals were later identified as:-
a) Mozamal Haque Bhuiyan, Age 35 yrs, S/O Late Idrish Bhuiya R/O & P/O Hirapur, Bangladesh.
b) Abdul Razzak Bhuiya, Age 33 years, S/O Daulat Bihari Bhuiya R/O Vill – Barokuripaik PO- Hirapur, Bangladesh.
c) Md Alam Miah Age 35 yrs, S/O Md Abu Tahir R/O Vill – Abdhulla Pur PO – Akhaura Bangladesh.
d) Sujit Sarkar, R/O Kalkalia, PS – Sidhai, Tripura, India.
The incident occurred about 1.5 Kms from BP No. 2021/MP and 1.25 kms from BOP Agartala Check Post (towards BOP Lankamura).
5. The dead bodies of above criminals / miscreants were taken away by the police for investigation. It was also subsequently ascertained that one of the above four criminals, Mozamal Haque Bhuyian was also involved in the brutal killing of Late Shri Jeevan Kumar, Asst Comdt of 131 Bn BSF in April 2005.
6. At a Company Commander level Flag Meeting between BSF and BDR held on 10th Sept’ 2005, the BSF strongly refuted the charges of kidnapping and killing of above criminals/robbers. During a follow-up meeting between the BSF & BDR held on 12th Sept’ 05 at BOP ACP, Bangladesh police received two dead bodies from Indian police i.e of Mozamal Haque Bhuiyan and Abdul Razzak Bhuiya, in the presence of doctors from India and Bangladesh.
7. It may also be further recalled that in bilateral discussions at the level of Director Generals of BDR and BSF, both sides had expressed concern at the activities of smugglers, criminals and had agreed to cooperate to curb illegal activities along the India-Bangladesh international border. The High Commission of India would like to once again reiterate that maintenance of peace and tranquility along our commons borders is the responsibility of both the BDR may and the BSF. The Government of India has consistently conveyed that the BDR be requested to take effective steps to check illegal cross border movement and activities.
********