The disfigured bodies two Bangladeshis, reportedly burned with acid, were recovered from the Padma River along the Masudpur border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj on Saturday, triggering fresh outrage over alleged cross-border killings by India鈥檚 Border Security Force.
The deceased were Shafiqul Islam Shafiq, 42, and Selim Ali, 34, both residents of Hotatpara village under Monakasha union in the bordering district.
The bodies were found floating near Batasir of Paka union with signs of severe torture, according to locals and family members.
Shafiq鈥檚 brother-in-law, Samir Uddin - also a member of the Monakasha Union Parishad - said that Shafiq and Selim had crossed the border into India on Thursday night to bring cattle. Both went missing shortly afterwards.
鈥榃e found Shafiq鈥檚 body floating in the river, horribly disfigured by acid. Several teeth were broken and there were visible blood marks around his throat. The injuries suggest brutal torture,鈥� Samir told 抖阴精品, adding that Selim鈥檚 body was also was found in the river later.
Local residents alleged that the BSF was responsible for the killings.
鈥楤SF members are changing their tactics. Instead of shooting, they now torture people to death and dump the bodies in the river to erase evidence,鈥� said a villager who requested anonymity.
Lieutenant Colonel Fahad Mahmud Rinku, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh Battalion-53, confirmed that there were visible injury marks on the body, but said the exact cause of death could not be determined until the post-mortem report was available.
鈥榃e are in touch with the BSF, but they have denied any involvement. The victim鈥檚 family has not yet lodged a formal complaint,鈥� he said.
This is the second such incident in less than a week.
On Monday, local residents recovered the body of another cattle trader, Soiabur Ali, from the Padma River at Fultala Ghat in Godagari upazila.
According to the family members, Soiabur, from Dashrashia village under Shibganj upazila, had crossed the border聽into India along with a companion, Ruhul Ali, to smuggle cattle.
His body bore multiple stab wounds. Villagers believe he was tortured to death after being captured near the Monoharpur border by BSF personnel. Ruhul still remains missing.
