BSF lodges protest with Bangladesh; complains killing of jawan

[Galaxy]

BSF lodges protest with Bangladesh; complains killing of jawan

Feb 7, 2012

KOLKATA: BSF has lodged a protest with their Bangladeshi counterparts after a jawan today succumbed to his injuries, three days after he was beaten up by a group of smugglers along Indo-Bangladesh border in North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal.

Head Constable Sartaj Singh (42) was deployed at Gobardah border outpost in the district on February 4 when he and his colleagues intercepted a 100-strong squad of suspected cow smugglers in the wee hours.

"The smugglers who came from across the border attacked the BSF party and two troops, including Sartaj, sustained serious injuries. At a hospital in Kolkata today, Sartaj succumbed to his injuries which were largely sustained by him because of stones and kicking during the incident," a senior BSF officer said.

"We have registered an official protest with the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) for not intercepting the smugglers in their area of responsibility", the officer added.

"During the attack, three Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended and 32 cattle heads were seized from the place of incident," a statement by the South Bengal Frontier of BSF, whose headquarters is in Kolkata, said.

According to Border Security Force (BSF) officials, Sartaj exercised full restraint and did not fire at the smugglers even though he had a weapon.

"The troops tried to apprehend the smugglers but the BSF team was outnumbered and Sartaj and another jawan were seriously injured. Sartaj did not open fire till the end," an officer said.

BSF lodges protest with Bangladesh; complains killing of jawan - The Times of India

[Galaxy]

This is what happens when Home Minister tells BSF not to shoot, no matter what. Shameful and disgraceful for BSF not to shoot due to certain instruction from GoI.

[W.G.Ewald]

It's similar to ROE for US Border Patrol and Mexican drug smugglers.

[Tronic]

RIP to the brave Jawan. Despite having the power to take the lives of all those assholes in self defence, he chose not to. A true warrior who died in the line of duty. These ROE's need to be re-assessed.

[parijataka]

Brave, brave soldier. RIP.

[Rahul M]

if you go to any bangladeshi forum the sentiment is that it is bsf's fault that illegal immigrants from bangladesh, most of them criminals and smugglers to boot were inside Indian territory. we have enough problems as it is without importing any from that mini pakistan.

[Oracle]

/\/\/\ Rahul, those are mostly the Razakkars and the Jamaiti guys. There are still some positivities left when it comes to the general populace in Bangladesh. Many still acknowledge the help during 1971.

[Mr.Ryu]

Rest in peace brave soul

This is because of our spineless central government. And partially by media

[Dovah]

RIP Brave soldier.

[amitkriit]

Go to the article and read the comments of Bangladeshis in disguise, will surely boil your blood. If killing an innocent Bangladeshi saves Indian lives, then kill him. BSF serves India, BSF doesn't have any accountability towards the people of Bangladesh.

[Tshering22]

What a shame!! The brave BSF that were shooting unwanted garbage at our borders a year ago now have to complain to the same for killing our soldier. Shows what kind of a government we're being ruled by. An anti-national, India hating, colonial-arm of a government. We should Maldives in removing this filthy so-called government out before entire India is given this treatment.

[Rahul M]

/\/\/\ Rahul, those are mostly the Razakkars and the Jamaiti guys. There are still some positivities left when it comes to the general populace in Bangladesh. Many still acknowledge the help during 1971.

that is less than 10% my friend.

[lemontree]

No point blaming the government in these instances. The incident is tragic. But when the GOI issues orders it is for a purpose. No one sitting in Delhi, of which ever party, would like to see our soldiers get killed as such.

W.r.t Bangladesh, the BSF would have been asked to exercise restraint and avoid using firepower, as we do not want to cause a situation where India gets negative publicity in Bangladesh. We have recently improved ties with them and it has been of strategic benefit to India. The ULFA have had their base pulled from under their feet, and are being caught and handed over to India.

If the BSF trooper had open fire then the deaths of smugglers would have been shown as "innocent villagers" in Bangla media. Putting pressure on the Bangla govt to be harsh with India and showing India in poor light.

[Oracle]

that is less than 10% my friend.

Yeah! But that's not bad considering the Paki influence Bangladesh had for decades, even after their freedom. India has started on a good note with Bangladesh, the policies should not be left to rot.