By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter,
Kolkata/Islampur: A clash between BSF jawans and villagers during on Friday left over injured in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district. The incident began after a group of BS jawan playing Holi allegedly smeared the colours forcibly on few people who were returning after offering the Friday prayer on March 6 at village Goalgoch under the Chopra police station of North Dinajpur district.
Injured villagers Moinul Alam and others of Goalgoch admitted to local hospital after clashes with BSF jawans
Goalgoch village is very close to the border of Bangladesh and BSF Jawans are posted there.
Police and local sources said that a group of BSF jawans forcibly smeared colours to the `Musalli’ (Devoted to Namaz). When the locals protested, BSF jawans started beating them, injuring 20 people, four of whom are women.
Moinul Alam, an injured villager told TwoCircles.net, “As were coming back after finishing the Friday prayer, a group of BSF jawan spilled colours on us. When protested, they became aggressive and started beating us.”
The locality became tense after the incident. District police official said that the angry villagers latter vandalized the BSF vehicle. Villagers also alleged that the BSF jawan had even fired at them, although the district police have denied this.
Sensing the sensitivity of the matter, soon large number of police was deployed in the locality to avert any untoward incident.
Demanding actions against the BSF jawans, villagers alleged that they have seen them torturing civilians on even small issue at the border, but this is the first time that the BSF is indulging in a communal skirmish in the village.
Chairman of Chopra Panchayet Samity, Mukhlesur Rahman confirmed that twenty villagers have been injured.
State Minister of Mass Education Extension and Library Services Abdul Karim Chowdhury condemned the incident and directed the district administration to take necessary actions after proper investigation.
District Aam Admi Party leader Pasharul Islam alleged that the communal elements are getting emboldened in past few months after the NDA came back to power at the center. He added that such incidents took place in Coochbehar also recently.
BSF officers of Goalgach outpost at Chopra, however, denied any communal angle, adding that the BSF jawans were on routine patrol to the village and when stopped them a scuffle began.
Sub Divisional Police Officer of Islampur, Baibhav Tewari, told reporters that they have started the investigation.
One BSF jawan was also injured in the incident. According to officials BSF Commander Rajesh Kumar was injured. Meanwhile, three injured persons have been shifted to the North Bengal Medical College.