DHAKA: The Border Security Force (BSF) of India and its citizens have killed 406 Bangladeshis along the frontier areas since January 1, 2000, reports Odhikar, a Dhaka-based human rights coalition.

Of the victims, 328 were shot dead by the BSF alone, says the report, released on Friday, the day before the Indian foreign minister is due in Bangladesh. According to the report, most of the deceased were Bangladeshi farmers killed while working at their fields. In many cases, the BSF took away the bodies, and in a number of incidents, the Bangladeshis were killed after being abducted.

Apart from the killings, 484 Bangladeshis were injured, 471 arrested, 501 abducted and eight women raped during the period. Some 43 people were missing.