Indian Supreme Court defers Felani murder hearing till October 25

The Indian Supreme Court on Friday deferred until October 25 the hearing on two writ petitions filed over the murder of Bangladeshi teenager Felani by Indian Border Security Force (BSF). A two-member bench of the Indian apex court also asked the counsels concerned to go ahead with any of the writ petitions lodged in connection with the gruesome murder, said public prosecutor of Kurigram Abraham Linkon as quoted by UNB. Indian lawyer Aparna Bhat filed one writ petition while India-based Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) filed the other in response to an appeal by Felani's father Nurul Islam. Felani was killed in gunfire by members of BSF while she was crossing a barbed-wire fence along the Anantapur border in Kurigram district on January 7, 2011. Felani, who used to work as a domestic help in New Delhi, was returning home from India along with her father. Although her father managed to cross into Bangladesh by scaling the barbed-wire fence, Felani was shot by the BSF men before she was able to do so. Felani's death triggered widespread global outcry. After investigation, the BSF submitted a charge sheet against its constable Amiya Ghosh, who was responsible for the shooting. On August 19, 2013, a special court constituted by the BSF acquitted Amiya Ghosh of the charge. Subsequently, in the wake of widespread criticism of the acquittal, the BSF decided to revise the murder trial. On November 16, 2014, the revision trial resumed at the court. However, the BSF man was again acquitted of the charge. Later, the victim's father appealed to the Indian Supreme Court against the judgment on July 13, 2015.