India carrying out push-ins to Bangladesh following due process: BSF chief Daljit
Defending his force’s actions, Daljit Singh Chawdhary says members resort to lethal weapons only as a last option when their lives are under threat
Push-ins of people from India into Bangladesh are being carried out in line with official procedures, India's Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary said today (28 August).
Only illegal intruders are being pushed in and always in accordance with the rules, he said during a joint press conference at the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) headquarters in Dhaka's Pilkhana, on the final day of the 56th DG-level border conference between the BGB and BSF.
BGB DG Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and other senior officials were also present.
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"So far, 550 people have been handed over to the BGB, while verification is ongoing for 2,400 cases with assistance from the Bangladesh High Commission," the BSF chief said.
Asked whether religious or linguistic ties played any role in the process, Daljit replied, "In cases of border law violations, there is a well-established, legal repatriation channel between our two countries through which this process is carried out."
Regarding claims that both Bangladeshi and Indian nationals are being pushed across the border, he said, "If anyone is found to be an Indian citizen, they will be accepted [back] immediately."
Meanwhile, BGB chief Ashrafuzzaman, when questioned about the issue of border killings, said it had been given top priority during the talks.
The BSF DG defended his force;s actions, saying members resort to lethal weapons only as a last option when their lives are under threat.
"In the first six months of this year, 35 BSF personnel were seriously injured by sharp weapons used by intruders. BSF personnel first issue warnings, then obstruct and only as a final step open fire," he said.
The BGB chief, however, disagreed, citing a recent case in which a young Bangladeshi boy was shot dead in broad daylight by the BSF. "How much of a threat could that child really have posed to border security?" he asked.
The four-day conference, which began on Monday, concluded with agreements to undertake joint awareness programmes, launch socio-economic development initiatives in vulnerable border areas, and strengthen cooperation to prevent criminals from crossing the international boundary.
Both forces expressed the goal of reducing attacks, abuse and killings along the border to zero.
Ashrafuzzaman led the 21-member Bangladesh delegation, while Daljit headed the 11-member Indian side.
