Youth shot dead at Meghalaya border

SYLHET, July 11: A 25-year-old Bangladeshi man was shot dead near the Bangladesh-India border in Sylhet early on Saturday, with border authorities launching an investigation into the cross-border killing, officials said.
The deceased, Minhaj Uddin, 25, was the son of Kamar Uddin of Bhadeshwar village in West Jaflong Union under Gowainghat upazila.
The incident occurred at around 3:00am in an area adjacent to Lakhat station in the Indian state of Meghalaya.
According to local sources, Minhaj was allegedly involved in smuggling goods from India into Bangladesh. However, the motive behind the shooting could not  immediately be confirmed.
Locals said that at around 3:00am, Minhaj crossed the Sonarhat-Lakhat border and entered the area near Lakhat station in India, where he was allegedly shot by Khasi people.
Local Union Parishad member Kamal Uddin said they informed the police and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after receiving news of the incident.
Gowainghat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Omar Faruk said a police team, led by Sub-Inspector Tanvir Fayaz, visited the border area after receiving reports of the shooting.
The body was later sent to the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Nazmul Haque, commanding officer of the Sylhet Battalion (48 BGB), said preliminary information suggested that Minhaj had entered Indian territory to steal goods when he was shot by members of the Khasi community.
He added that BGB had strengthened patrols and surveillance along the border following the incident and that an investigation was under way.
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