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'Hesitation to fire at civilians led to capture of BSF men'

Hesitation to fire at civilians led to the capture and killing of 16 Border Security Force personnel at Boraibari on the India-Bangladesh border on April 18, official sources said in Delhi Wednesday.

Detailing the incidents which culminated in the killing of 16 BSF personnel, they said the deceased border guards were patrolling the area to prevent intrusion by the Bangladesh Rifles after "unprovoked" attack by the Bangladeshi border guards three days earlier when three battalions of troops targeted an Indian border outpost at Pyrdiwah.

"The BSF patrol party came under heavy fire from BDR troops at Boraibari at about 4.15 am on April 18," they said, adding "anticipating that the BDR troops would follow the firing with an attempt to enter Indian territory, the patrol decided to neutralise the firing by entering the area which was under the adverse possession of Bangladesh."

"This was aimed at securing tactical advantage over the border post at Boraibari," the sources said.

The BSF patrol split into two smaller units to cover a larger area around the post, they said, adding one such group advanced to an area towards the village and were confronted by a large number of civilians backed up by units of BDR. These 16 BSF personnel were captured by BDR.

The sources said reinforcements, including three companies and mortars and medium machine guns, were immediately sent. "The subsequent mobilisation and action by the BSF effectively silenced the BDR and compelled them to request a ceasefire in this area," they said.

"Initial information reveals that it was the hesitation of the BSF personnel to fire at civilians which led to their capture and killing," the sources said.

PTI

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