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== Criticism and controversy == === Canadian controversy === In 2010, some Canadian visa officials rejected the immigration application of a retired BSF soldier Fateh Singh Pandher, terming BSF a "notoriously violent paramilitary unit engaged in systematic attacks on civilians and responsible for torturing suspected criminals." This accusation did not go down well with the Indian government. The Indian External Affairs Ministry was asked by the Home minister to take up the issue with Canada.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Canada-calls-BSF-a-violent-paramilitary-unit/H1-Article1-546685.aspx |title=Canada calls BSF a 'violent paramilitary unit' |date=21 May 2010 |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=21 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524052010/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Canada-calls-BSF-a-violent-paramilitary-unit/H1-Article1-546685.aspx |archive-date=24 May 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Terming-BSF-notoriously-violent-Canada-rejects-ex-constables-visa/article16303160.ece|title=Terming BSF|first=Vinay|last=Kumar|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008160348/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Terming-BSF-notoriously-violent-Canada-rejects-ex-constables-visa/article16303160.ece|archive-date=8 October 2017|df=dmy-all|newspaper=The Hindu|date=22 May 2010}}</ref> The Home ministry of India, as well as the Indian public in general and several of India's political parties, expressed outrage at this attack and called Canada's actions [[Indophobia|discriminatory]] and spurious, and denounced their charges against the BSF as baseless and unproven. The Indian government threatened diplomatic retaliation unless Canada withdrew their allegations. The Canadian government did not respond immediately.<ref>{{cite news|title=Canada Visa Application |url=https://etacanadaonline.com/ |work=[[Times of India]] |access-date=29 May 2010 |date=28 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222081713/https://etacanadaonline.com/ |archive-date=22 December 2016 }}</ref> It was speculated that diplomatic retaliation from India will consist of banning Canadians going to participate the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] if they are doing so through India. Public outrage in India prompted Canadian authorities to express "great respect for [[Indian Armed Forces|India's armed forces]] and related institutions."<ref>{{cite news |title= We have great respect for Indias armed forces -Canada |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/We-have-great-respect-for-Indias-armed-forces-Canada/articleshow/5961366.cms|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121103212451/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-22/india/28310027_1_notoriously-violent-force-india-canada-canadian-high-commission|url-status= live|archive-date= 3 November 2012|access-date=29 May 2010 |work= [[The Times of India]] |date=22 May 2010}}</ref> Subsequently, India's [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] summoned Canadian High Commissioner [[Joseph Caron]] and demanded that "the blatant discrimination against Indian security agencies" cease.<ref>{{cite news |title=Visa row, India warns Canada of retaliation |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/visa-row-india-warns-canada-of-retaliation/116382-3.html?from=tn |publisher=[[CNN-IBN]] |access-date=29 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013135743/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/visa-row-india-warns-canada-of-retaliation/116382-3.html?from=tn |archive-date=13 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> India's Minister of External Affairs, [[SM Krishna]], condemned Canada's actions and has expressed pride in the accomplishments of the BSF.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/71865/visa-row-india-warns-canada.html |title=Visa Row, India warns Canada |publisher=Deccanherald.com |access-date=21 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017082402/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/71865/visa-row-india-warns-canada.html |archive-date=17 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Following complaints made by the Indian government and criticism of Canada's actions against India, the [[Harper government]] retracted their earlier accusations against BSF security officials. Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, [[Jason Kenney]], termed as "unfortunate" the incidents involving use of "foul language by the [[Canadian High Commission]] in [[visa (document)|visa]] rejection letters to some individuals," Kenney said, "This language, or the inaccurate impression it has created, in no way reflects the policy or position of the [[Government of Canada]]."<ref> {{cite news |title=Canada regrets language used by its officials in visa letters |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/bline/blnus/10281470.htm |publisher=[[Business Line|The Hindu Business Line]] |access-date=29 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317183841/http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/bline/blnus/10281470.htm |archive-date=17 March 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> === Bangladesh border killings === According to the Bangladeshi government, 136 civilians were killed and a further 170 others suffered injuries in 2009. The Indian government has said that 67 were killed and 80 injured in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=179091|title=BSF killed 136 Bangladeshis since 2009|access-date=11 November 2014|date=25 March 2011}}</ref> The Bangladesh government and Bangladeshi organizations protested heavily against these alleged killings. Media reports claim that in August 2008, Indian BSF officials admitted that they killed 59 persons (34 Bangladeshis, 21 Indians, rest unidentified) who were trying to cross the border illegally during the prior six months.<ref name="bsf killing">[http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-35156020080824 India says 59 killed over last six months on Bangladesh border] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026110404/http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-35156020080824 |date=26 October 2008 }}, Reuters, 24 August 2008.</ref> Indian media claimed that, in 2001, [[Border Guards Bangladesh|Bangladesh Rifles]] ambushed and killed 16 BSF soldiers while they were chasing some Bangladeshi smugglers back into the Bangladesh. Since then, the BSF has been compelled to act tough against Bangladeshi illegals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/20/fortress_india|title=Fortress India – By Scott Carney, Jason Miklian, and Kristian Hoelscher|publisher=Foreign Policy|access-date=21 March 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328064739/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/20/fortress_india|archive-date=28 March 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> There was perceived retaliation by the BSF but was averted after Home Ministers of both countries had talks on the issue. In July 2009 [[Channel 4 News]] reported that apparently "hundreds" of Bangladeshis and Indians are indiscriminately killed by the BSF along the [[Indo-Bangladeshi Barrier]]. The BSF claims that the barrier's main purpose is to check [[Illegal immigration in India|illegal immigration to India]], and prevent [[Terrorism in India|cross-border terrorism]] from [[Islamist]]s.<ref name="India-Bangladesh 'security' fence">{{cite news|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/indiabangladesh+apossecurityapos+fence/3281357|title=Channel 4 News|date=24 July 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228183555/http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/indiabangladesh+apossecurityapos+fence/3281357|archive-date=28 December 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Bangladeshi media accused the BSF of abducting 5 Bangladeshi children, aged between 8 and 15, from the [[Haripur Upazila]] in [[Thakurgaon District]] of Bangladesh, in 2010. The children were setting fishing nets near the border.<ref name="dstar">{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=148029|title=BSF abducts 5 children from border|date=24 July 2010|newspaper=The Daily Star|access-date=24 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726180826/http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=148029|archive-date=26 July 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2010, [[Human Rights Watch]] (HRW) issued an 81-page report which alleged "over 900 of abuses by the BSF" in the first decade of the 21st century. The report was compiled from interviews with victims of BSF shootings, witnesses and members of the BSF and its [[Border Guards Bangladesh|Bangladeshi counterpart]]. According to HRW, while most of them were killed when they crossed into Indian territory for indulging in [[cattle raiding]] or other [[smuggling]] activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/12/06/indiabangladesh-indiscriminate-killings-abuse-border-officers|title=India/Bangladesh: Indiscriminate Killings, Abuse by Border Officers|work=[[Human Rights Watch]]|access-date=21 January 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123104243/http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/12/06/indiabangladesh-indiscriminate-killings-abuse-border-officers|archive-date=23 January 2011|df=dmy-all|date=9 December 2010}}</ref> In February 2012, the BSF website was hacked by Bangladeshi hackers in retaliation. The hackers later shared the news in the internet and also in the other social sites where they claimed to have defaced the sites asking the BSF to stop killing Bangladeshis at border. The site became normal sometime on 15 February 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bangladesh-group-hacks-BSF-website-to-avenge-border-killings/articleshow/11892684.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510112352/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-15/india/31062663_1_pakistani-hackers-indian-websites-indian-hackers|url-status=live|archive-date=10 May 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Bangladesh group hacks BSF website to 'avenge border killings'|date=15 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/20000-indian-websites-come-under-attack-bangladesh-hackers-999 |title=20,000 Indian websites come under attack from Bangladesh hackers |access-date=2012-03-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229224318/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/20000-indian-websites-come-under-attack-bangladesh-hackers-999 |archive-date=29 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=সীমান্তে বিএসএফ আগ্রাসন : বাংলাদেশী নাগরিকদের নির্বিচারে হত্যা ও গুম|access-date=11 November 2014|url=http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2013/01/02/180831#.UOYNVORLWX11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111040807/http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2013/01/02/180831#.UOYNVORLWX11|archive-date=11 November 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2013/01/03/181008#.UOYN4ORLWX0|title=বেপরোয়া বিএসএফ : ২৪ ঘণ্টার ব্যবধানে চাঁপাই সীমান্তে আরও দুই বাংলাদেশীকে হত্যা|publisher=আমার দেশ|access-date=11 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111042741/http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2013/01/03/181008#.UOYN4ORLWX0|archive-date=11 November 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
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