Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Tuesday visited Chetanagach, a village in Chopra block of North Dinajpur, where four minor boys died on February 12 buried under the earth in a trench being dug near the Bangladesh border.

“We have sought a report from the BSF on the incident. I have spoken with the families of the four boys and will ensure that they get justice. Whatever I have found during my visit, I will share with my constitutional colleague, the chief minister, and will also bring it to the notice of the Union home minister,” Bose said, announcing Rs 1 lakh from the governor’s fund for each of the four bereaved families.

A trench, used to prevent cattle smuggling, was deepened on February 12, when a local tea grower said he needed earth. The BSF allowed it. But police have not come out with a statement on who hired the excavator, though its owner and driver were arrested after the death of the boys who were watching the digging of the trench.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her party colleagues alleged that the boys died because of the BSF’s negligence. In Chopra, Trinamul launched an indefinite sit-in demonstration in front of a local BSF camp, demanding the central security force apologise to the bereaved families and compensate them.

Trinamul formed a 12-member delegation of ministers and elected representatives which met Bose in Calcutta on February 15 and requested him to visit Chopra. On Monday, state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, a member of the delegation, visited Chetanagach.

On Tuesday, when Bose reached the village, the tearful families alleged BSF’s negligence and apathy cost them their sons.

“I have listened to their grievances. We are with them and shall see that they get justice and peace prevails at this border area,” Bose said.

He also visited a local BSF camp and spoke with the officials present there. “We have asked the BSF officials to see that incidents do not occur in the future,” said Bose.

State minister Golam Rabbani who is from North Dinajpur welcomed the Governor. He was accompanied by Kanaialal Agarwala, the civic chairman of Islampur.

“We thank the governor for coming here. He should note that the work to deepen the trench was done without carrying out necessary formalities,” said Rabbani.

After the governor’s visit, Trinamul lifted the sit-in demonstration on the eighth day.

“The governor assured us that he would take up the issue with the Union home minister and sought a report from the BSF. That is why we withdrew the sit-in. We will keep a close watch over the developments. If affected families don’t get justice, we will renew our protest,” said a senior district Trinamul leader.