DHAKA, June 26, Reuter: Bangladesh accused Indian troops today of killing nine of its border guards in the Southern Chittagong Hill tracts where guerrillas are fighting for independence.
The government handed a protest note to the Indian High Commissioner (Ambassador) in Dhaka about the shooting yesterday near Barkal, a foreign ministry spokesman said.
It condemned the “dastardly and unprovoked” attack and deplaned compensation for the victims’ families. Indian officials could not be reached for comment.
The official BSS news agency quoted an eyewitness report as saying Indian Security Force (BSF) troops fired on two patrol boats carrying Bangladesh rifles border guards on a lake.
Seven guards were killed instantly and two died later. The attackers took away their arms, including three machine guns, and a radio transmitter, BSS said!
It was Dhaka’s second protest to New Delhi this month against the actions of the BSF in the hill tracts where more than 1,200 people have been killed in a 14yearold independence campaign by. Shanti Bahini (Peace Force) guerrillas.
Dhaka says that 2,000 Shantis operate from sanctuaries in India.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 3, 1987
