Meghalaya Police Deny Bangladeshi Claims of Murder Suspects

Security agencies in Meghalaya have strongly refuted claims made by the Bangladesh Police regarding the alleged entry of two murder suspects into India. The accusations pertain to the case surrounding the murder of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot during an election campaign in Dhaka earlier this month.

On Sunday, the Border Security Force (BSF) in Meghalaya categorically stated that there is no evidence supporting the notion that any individuals crossed the international border into Meghalaya from the Haluaghat sector in Bangladesh. Inspector General O P Opadhyay of the BSF affirmed, 'There is no evidence to suggest that any individual crossed the international border from the Haluaghat sector into Meghalaya. The BSF has neither detected nor received any report of such an incident.'

A senior official from the Meghalaya Police echoed these sentiments, asserting that there was 'no input or intelligence to corroborate' the claims regarding the suspects' presence in the Garo Hills area. The official elaborated that local police units had not observed any such movements and that there was ongoing coordination with central agencies to monitor the situation.

The Garo Hills region, located in the western part of Meghalaya, shares a border with Bangladesh and is under the vigilant watch of the BSF. The situation is particularly sensitive given the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, which has raised concerns about potential cross-border criminal activities.

Earlier on the same day, the Bangladesh Police announced that two suspects in the murder of Osman Hadi—Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh—had fled into India with the assistance of local contacts after allegedly crossing the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh district. During a press briefing in Dhaka, an Additional Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police claimed that the suspects were aided by local associates upon their arrival in India and were subsequently transported to Tura in Meghalaya.

The report, published by the Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Star, suggested that Indian security agencies had detained individuals who assisted the suspects. The Bangladesh government is reportedly engaged in efforts to facilitate the return of the two suspects.

Sharif Osman Hadi, aged 32, was a prominent youth leader and spokesperson for the Inquilab Moncho political group. He was critically injured on December 12 and later succumbed to his injuries on December 18 after being airlifted to Singapore for treatment. Hadi was known for his activism during the mass protests that took place in July and August 2024, which contributed to the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. He was also a candidate for the upcoming parliamentary elections set for February 12, 2025.

In response to the claims from Bangladesh, senior officials in Meghalaya described the narratives as 'false and fabricated,' warning that such misinformation could create confusion and disturb the peace in the region. They emphasised the importance of verified information and the need for formal communication between the two countries' authorities to address cross-border issues effectively.

The Meghalaya Police and BSF have heightened border surveillance as a precautionary measure, stating that any potential attempts at illegal border crossings would be swiftly identified and dealt with. The police reiterated that enhanced security should not be misconstrued as validation of the unsubstantiated claims made by Bangladesh.

Officials underscored their willingness to cooperate with Bangladesh authorities, but they stressed that actions would only be taken based on verified intelligence shared through formal channels. They concluded that narratives must not replace factual evidence, especially in matters of cross-border security.