BSF gheraoed Umkiang Police Patrolling Post after arrest of three BSF personnel for molesting minor girl

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 20, 2024

The Meghalaya Police posted at Umkiang Police Patrolling under jurisdiction of Lumshnong Police Station, East Jaintia Hills District on Thursday were left helpless when a group of 30-40 BSF personnel gheraoed them after the summon of three BSF personnel. The Meghalaya Police were compelled to release the three BSF personnel from their custody

The three BSF personnel were charged in an FIR filed by the aggrieved family for molestation of a minor girl and the brutal assault of the family of three in one of the villages under the jurisdiction of Umkiang Police Patrolling Post on the intervening night of Wednesday -Thursday.

The incident became viral with a video captured by one of the residents doing the round in the social media platforms since the wee hours of Thursday morning. The faces of a few BSF personnel in civics were visible in the viral video.

In the video the BSF personnel were seen wearing civil dress with slippers or sandals and one of them was seen carrying an axe where two females attempted to snatch the axe from him while another was carrying a lathi.

In the video, a female voice could be overheard politely begging the BSF personnel to stop attacking the female and the word Sir was overheard several times.

The BSF personnel were heard abusing the civilians including females with highly filthy and derogatory words.

Meanwhile, the SP East Jaintia Hills District informed, “We have registered case. FIR received at Khliehriat Women PS case No. 16(6)2024 U/S 457/326/354/506/384/34 IPC R/W Section 7/8 POCSO Act has been registered and investigation is on. We will do the needful during investigation and identify the perpetrators.”

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the BSF in a statement to the media houses portrayed their version of the incident.

The PRO informed that on Wednesday night at about 2100 hrs , a group of 30-35 Bangladeshi smugglers facilitated by local Indian villagers infiltrated into Indian territory through the unfenced area of Border Outpost (BOP) Kuliang, under the jurisdiction of 172 Bn BSF.

He also informed that the aim of the intruders was to receive sugar consignments from Indian smugglers of one of the villages adjacent to the Indo Bangladesh border.

Upon receiving this information, a special BSF party was immediately rushed to the spot, the PRO claimed that as the BSF personnel approached, the Bangladeshi miscreants attempted to flee towards the village.

During the pursuit, the BSF party was confronted by local villagers in order to give safe passage to the Bangladeshi smugglers, who jointly began pelting stones on BSF personnel and hurled abusive language and threats.

In the ensuing altercation, an Indian woman attacked a BSF person with an axe, resulting in an injury on his right hand. Another BSF person sustained injury in his left hand due to stone pelting.

According to the viral video, few BSF personnel were seen in civil dress and in slippers or sandals, so a million dollar question arise did the BSF personnel performed their duties without uniform when they already received information from Thursday early evening.

The situation was promptly reported to the local police patrol post –Umkiang under PS- Lumshnong , East Jaintia Hills district.