Teenager killed as trooper opens fire in WB

KOLKATA: A 17-year-old girl died in West Bengal when a Border Security Force (BSF) trooper shot her accidentally, officials said on Thursday.

The incident took place on Wednesday near the Hatkhola border outpost in Nadia district, at the India-Bangladesh border, about 130 km from here.

"According to our preliminary investigation, it seems the jawan had shot the girl, Khukuli Khatun, accidentally. But the truth will come out only after a proper investigation," district police superintendent HK Kusumakar said.

District officials said while no action had yet been taken against the jawan, district magistrate OS Meena had assured Khukuli's family that justice would be done.

Her relatives, however, alleged the trooper was trying to molest her.

“Khukuli was returning home from her tuition classes Wednesday evening when a drunk BSF jawan shot her in the stomach. Incidentally, I live nearby. Hearing the shot I rushed to the spot, but never expected that I will find my own niece writhing in pain in a pool of blood,” the girl's uncle Ramjan Ali told reporters.

“While I was taking Khukuli to the block hospital she said the jawan stopped her near the border outpost and tried to molest her. When she protested he shot her in the stomach.

“She became unconscious after reaching the hospital and died late Wednesday night,” Ali said.