Video showing BSF torture surfaces; 8 suspended

The Border Security Force (BSF) suspended eight troopers after a video showing a man being stripped, kicked and beaten in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district along the India-Bangladesh border was aired on some channels Wednesday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) suspended eight troopers after a video showing a man being stripped, kicked and beaten in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district along the India-Bangladesh border was aired on some channels Wednesday.

The nearly five-minute video, whose source and authenticity could not be ascertained immediately, shows three to four people in BSF-style dark green fatigues tying up a man and assaulting him.

The suspended BSF personnel were identified as constables Virender Tiwari, VS Victor, Dhananjay Kumar, Anand Singh, Amar Jyoti, Sanjeev Kumar, Suresh Chand and Sunil Kumar.

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“The eight personnel have been identified and suspended pending inquiry,” deputy inspector general at BSF headquarters here, Vikas Chandra, said.

BSF PRO T Acharya said, “A news video clipping showing violent and illegal conduct by three-four men in uniform in the area of Murshidabad, West Bengal, has been taken note of by BSF headquarters.

A detailed staff court-of-inquiry has been ordered to fix responsibility and take action under BSF Act and rules for this misconduct.”

Acharya added that the Commandant of 105 battalion, to which the suspended personnel belong, had been asked to immediately visit the spot and ascertain details of the incident.

According to reports, the person shown being beaten up in the video is a Bangladeshi national and was reportedly indulging in cattle smuggling.