Shillong, Dec 29: Meghalaya’s Border Security Force (BSF) chief, Inspector General OP Upadhyay, on Monday rejected claims in Bangladeshi media that two suspects in the murder of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi had crossed into India.

Speaking to ANI, Upadhyay stated that no such cross-border movement occurred in the Meghalaya sector, describing the reports as “completely false, fabricated, and misleading.” He noted that it would have been nearly impossible for the suspects to travel almost 300 km from Dhaka, given Bangladesh’s extensive CCTV surveillance and checkpoints.

The BSF chief also pointed out inconsistencies in Bangladeshi media coverage, including conflicting statements from officials—where a senior IG-rank officer denied the incident, contradicting claims made by a DIG. Meghalaya Police also refuted reports of apprehending the suspects, and the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) confirmed no such incident had taken place.

The denial comes amid ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh following Hadi’s killing. Hadi, who had led protests against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was murdered recently, with the aftermath seeing targeted violence against minorities, including the killings of Hindus Dipu Chandra Das and Amrit Mondal. The incidents have drawn concern from New Delhi and prompted protests in India by Hindutva groups.

Meanwhile, Inqilab Moncho supporters in Bangladesh continued protests on Sunday, blocking Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection and staging shutdowns in divisional cities to demand justice for Hadi, according to The Daily Star.