Residents of Chamta, a village located under Sitai police station of Cooch Behar district near the India-Bangladesh border, on Saturday mourned the death of Prakash Barman, who died early on Friday morning in alleged firing by the BSF, and blamed the men in uniform.

A group of cattle smugglers had attacked a patrolling team which made them fire in self-defence, BSF had claimed.

There were hardly any takers for the BSF narrative at the village as they recalled a jovial young man, who worked hard to run his family of aged mother, wife and two children.
“He was the sole earning member. The family members are yet to recover from the shock and have no inkling as to how they will manage to earn a square meal,” said a villager.

Sources said on Saturday, a team from the Sitai block administration visited his house and collected detailed information about the family.
“A report would be sent to the district administration. There are indications that the state might extend some help to the family that is in crisis,” said an official.
Senior Trinamul leaders, who have assured that they are with the bereaved family, echoed the villagers' sentiment and criticised the BSF.
“The BSF could have used non-lethal weapons. It is unfortunate that Prakash Barman, who was a daily-rated worker, was hit on his head. We want a comprehensive investigation and those behind this unnecessary firing should face legal actions," said veteran party leader Rabindranath Ghosh.
Police, who are probing the case, said no one has turned up to claim the other two bodies. Both these bodies were found from beyond the fences and the deceased are suspected to be Bangladeshi residents.

“We are gathering information from different sources. The investigators will also speak with BSF officials in due course,” said a senior police officer.
Bangladeshi arrests

BSF troops posted across north Bengal arrested two Bangladeshi nationals in the past 24 hours from different locations of the region.
On Thursday, a team of 195 battalion of the force deployed at BOP Greengach on Indo-Bangla border in Jalpaiguri district apprehended Md Alamin Hussain, a resident of Panchagarh district of Bangladesh while he was allegedly trying to breach the border fences to smuggle cattle.
In another case, BSF men of 137 battalion arrested Sunima Haldar, who is from Bogura district of the neighbouring country, on Friday. She allegedly infiltrated into India to meet a relative.