As soon as Sorna reached the waterbody near the Lalarchak border in Kulaura, she became terrified upon seeing the BSF (Border Security Force) and cried out, "Don't kill us, take us under the law." Instead of receiving a reply, her chest was pierced by a BSF bullet. Seeing the gun aimed at her, Sorna turned around. The bullet entered through the right side of her chest and exited the other side. At that moment, Sorna said, "Mother, let go of my hand, I won't survive anymore. Save your life." Sorna's brother Pintu Das shared these heart-wrenching details with Manabzamin (a news outlet) through tears, after hearing the story from his mother when she regained consciousness.
The village of Kalnigor in Juri Upazila is now engulfed in mourning. This once peaceful locality is shattered by grief. Sorna Das, a young girl from this village, has passed away, falling victim to the bullets of the BSF while trying to cross the border. Her family, including her father Parendra Das and mother Sanjita Rani Das, are in deep shock, fainting repeatedly from the tragedy. Sorna was the youngest of three brothers and two sisters. She was bright in her studies and a lively presence at her school. Her classmates are devastated by the premature loss. Sorna, an 8th-grade student at Nirod Bihari High School, had set out on Sunday night, September 1st, with her mother to cross the Lalarchak border in Sharifpur Union of Kulaura. Their destination was her maternal uncle’s house in Shanichhara village of Tripura. One of Sorna’s brothers had been living with their uncle Kartik Das’s family for a long time, and Sorna had longed to see her brother and visit her uncle’s home.
Sorna's father, Parendra Das, said that on Sunday morning, her mother and Sorna left home intending to go to India. By Monday morning, they had not yet arrived at their uncle’s house. After much searching, they managed to rescue Sorna’s mother from Shamshernagar with the help of a military officer. Later that Monday afternoon, the family was informed of Sorna's death through the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Sorna’s mother, Sanjita Rani Das, recounted that they had fallen into the hands of traffickers near the border, who, along with another family from Chittagong, tried to push them into India. As they approached the border, the sound of gunfire rang out, and she collapsed to the ground. Her daughter’s body was riddled with bullets from the heartless BSF. After saying this, Sanjita Rani Das fainted again.
Local ward member of West Juri UP (Union Parishad), Madan Mohan Das, said, "She was a very gentle and well-mannered girl, admired throughout the village." Acting chairman of West Juri UP, Sirajul Islam, expressed, "Who gave them the right to shoot and kill? We do not support border killings. How many more bodies like Felani's will fall at the border? If India considers us a friend, they must stop this."
Sorna's classmates, Susmita, Purba, Banya, and Sipa, shared that she was good in her studies and active in sports. She was the life of the class. They wondered why the forces of a friendly country were so ruthless, their hearts not trembling even once as they fired.
Forty-five hours later, on Tuesday evening, Sorna’s body was handed over through the Chatlapur checkpoint by the BSF. Her last rites were performed on Wednesday.
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