New Delhi, April 25
The Centre today said it was probably the hesitation of the BSF personnel to fire at civilians which led to their capture and brutal killing by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel in Pyrdiwah outpost.

“Initial inquiries and information obtained from various sources reveals that it was probably the hesitation of the BSF personnel to fire at civilians which led to their capture and killing,” a Home Ministry spokesman said here.

The spokesman said on the night of April 15 and 16 when the BDR resorted to totally unprovoked attack on the Indian-held border outpost at Pyrdiwah the strength of the BDR Army troops exceeded three battalions.

“The officers and jawans of the BSF numbering only 32 held their ground boldly and courageously against tremendous odds which is a tribute to their professional efficiency and commitment,” he said.

Detailing about the entire incident, he said in the light of the aggression of the BDR at Pyrdiwah a general alert was sounded on the Indo-Bangladesh border and all units were asked to patrol their areas intensively in order to foil any further attempts of the BDR to enter Indian territory.

It was under these instructions that a patrol party of the border outpost of Mankachar (118 Bn BSF) was carrying out intensive patrolling in our area when it was fired upon heavily by the BDR troops of Baraibari BOP at about 4.15 a.m. on April 18, he said.

Anticipating that the BDR troops would follow up this firing with an attempt to enter into the Indian territory, the patrol decided to neutralise firing by entering the area which was under the adverse possession of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the BSF authorities today denied any delay on their part in intimating the families of the 16 jawans killed by the Bangladesh Rifles in Pyrdiwah and said arrangements had been made for speedy despatch of ashes to their families.

MANAKCHAR: Union Minister of State for Home I.D.Swami on Wednesday reviewed the situation on the Assam-Bangladesh border and instructed the BSF to be on “maximum alert” to prevent recurrence of attacks which led to the killing of 16 BSF men by the BDR last Wednesday.