Bangladeshi 'drug smuggler' killed in firing by BSF after attack near Tripura border, jawan injured

Guwahati: An alleged drug smuggler from Bangladesh was killed after BSF personnel opened fire following an attack near India-Bangladesh border in Tripura.

The incident took place at around 6 pm on Monday and BSF made this public on Tuesday afternoon.

A statement issued by Tripura Frontier of BSF said they had to fire two rounds after a large group of Bangladeshi "miscreants" armed with sharp weapons attempted to smuggle contraband in an area under Salpokhar border outpost in Sepahijala district and attacked a BSF personnel.

"When the alert BSF troops challenged the Bangladeshi miscreants, they gheraoed and further assaulted, and also tried to snatch the riffle of one BSF jawan. In the ensuing scuffle, one round of pump action gun was fired by the BSF party to deter the miscreants. But Bangladeshi miscreants continued with their assault and also inflicted a deep cut with dah on one of the jawans. To save themselves from the assaulting Bangladeshi miscreants, two rounds were fired in self-defence," said the statement.

The Bangladeshi "miscreants" fled the area but one of them was found dead about 30 meters inside Indian territory during a search, the statement further said.

The deceased was identified as Kamal Hussain, a resident of Furiramura village in Cumilla district in Bangladesh. An FIR was lodged with Jatrapur police station in Sephaijala district for further legal action.

"A sector commander level meeting was also held with the Border Guards Bangladesh at 8am on Tuesday, in which BSF lodged a strong protest against the assault and such illegal activities being carried out by Bangladesh miscreants inside the Indian territory," said the statement.

This was the second such incident near the border with Tripura since October 4, when a BSF head constable was injured in an attack by Bangladeshi "drug smugglers" near the border in West Tripura district.

Tripura shares an 856 km border with Bangladesh and smuggling of drugs has become a serious issue. The smugglers even attacked BSF personnel, who tried to stop illegal activities along the border.

The BSF have stepped up vigil and patrol along the border in order to prevent illegal migration and smuggling. Many Bangladeshi nationals have been pushed back or arrested for illegal migration since the Sheikh Hasina government was toppled in Bangladesh.