A Bangladeshi youth was killed after allegedly being shot by members of the Indian Khasi community near the Sylhet border early Saturday.
The incident occurred at around 3am near Lakhat Station in India’s Meghalaya state, close to the Sonarhat-Lakhat border in Gowainghat upazila.
The deceased was identified as Minhaj Uddin, 25, son of Kamar Uddin of Bhadeshwar village under West Jaflong Union in Gowainghat.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Nazmul Haque, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) 48 Battalion, confirmed the incident.
According to Kamal Uddin, a member of West Jaflong Union Parishad, Minhaj crossed the Sonarhat-Lakhat border into India during the night.
He was allegedly shot by Khasi residents near Lakhat Station, leaving him critically injured.
Local residents later informed police and the BGB, he said.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) Omar Faruk of Gowainghat Police Station said police visited the area after receiving reports of the incident.
He said an inquest report had been prepared and the body was being sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for an autopsy. Necessary legal procedures are underway.
The BGB commander said preliminary information suggests Minhaj had entered about one kilometre inside Indian territory, possibly for theft or another unlawful purpose, when he came under gunfire from Khasi residents.
He was brought back to Bangladesh after the shooting but died on the way to hospital, the BGB official said.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
