BSF refutes claims of killing senior Awami League leader in Meghalaya

Shillong: The Border Security Force (BSF) has categorically denied reports circulating in Bangladeshi media that it was involved in the death of a senior Awami League member, Ishaque Ali Khan Panna.

The BSF labeled the reports as a "blatant lie" and attributed them to vested interest groups aiming to spread misinformation.

Reports from Bangladesh suggested that Panna, a former General Secretary of the Chhatra League—the student wing of the ruling Awami League—might have been killed by the BSF or suffered a fatal heart attack while allegedly attempting to enter India.

However, a senior BSF official dismissed these claims, emphasizing that Panna’s body was discovered well within Bangladeshi territory, far from the Dawki border in Meghalaya.

According to Bangladeshi media, Panna was allegedly trying to cross into India by scaling the hills near Shillong when he either succumbed to a heart attack or was killed by the BSF.

The reports cited anonymous sources for these claims, but the BSF has strongly refuted any involvement.

The circumstances surrounding Panna’s death remain unclear, but sources suggest that he was being pursued by Jamaat-e-Islami cadres, who have reportedly been targeting Awami League members in Bangladesh.

Many of these members have gone into hiding or attempted to flee the country. Panna was believed to be one of them.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Panna, along with retired Bangladesh Supreme Court Justice Shamsuddin Manik, tried to escape to India with the help of a local handler.

However, the handler allegedly betrayed them, leading to their capture and subsequent lynching, either by Jamaat-e-Islami supporters or local villagers.

Justice Manik was reportedly apprehended by the Border Guard Bangladesh and is now in judicial custody in Dhaka.

Justice Manik, who had defended former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during televised debates amidst student protests, has since been viewed as an adversary by some in Bangladesh.

Panna, a senior figure within the Awami League and owner of an insurance company, had held various significant roles within the party over the years.