Housewife killed in BSF firing in Tripura, murder and rape charges against trooper

Dhanpur (Tripura), July 23 : A 24-year-old housewife from the minority Muslim community was allegedly shot dead by BSF troopers in Sonunamura's Bangladesh border of Tripura on Friday. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon around 60 km south of capital Agartala in bordering Tarapukur area under Dhanpur border outpost (BOP) of Sepahijal district which is guarded by 145 battalion of Border Security Force (BSF). Locals alleged that a BSF trooper tried to rape the victim identified as Maya Begam in absence of all male members of the house while she was bathing, but when she resisted and tried to raise an alarm, the trooper fired upon her and killed her on the spot. Tarak Ali, a local resident said, "When she had come for bath, he (BSF trooper) tried to pull her and bring to the temporary campsite, but as she resisted, the trooper fired upon her. He wanted to rape her. The victim's name is Maya Begum." Ali added that often the BSF in the name of search and other activities, targets innocents living on the borders and continue with their atrocities on them. Ali and other annoyed villagers demanded severe punishment for the BSF trooper, who immediately after the incident, took shelter at a nearby BOP. Ali said, "We are Indians and not Bangladeshis or Pakistanis. Had it been a man, then we could have understood that maybe he is terrorist, but it was a woman. He wanted to be rape her. We are Muslims and so face this atrocity, we demand the hanging of the BSF Company Commander as punishment." Meantime another villager Runa Khatun alleged, "She was bathing when the BSF tried to rape her but as she refused the BSF sprayed bullet on her." The murder occurred on the road in the proximity of the victim's home and when most of the males in the locality had gone to the mosque for performing Friday prayers. The situation had turned tense in the area and senior police official had rushed to the spot to bring it under control. The family members of the victim has lodged a case with the Sonamura police against the BSF of murder charges along with attempt to rape.