Krishnanagar, Dec. 30:BSF personnel have gunned down a Bangladeshi smuggler after they came under attack during an anti-smuggling operation near the Indo–Bangladesh border in Nadia district during early hours of Sunday morning.
The incident occurred at BOP Matiari under the 32 Battalion, where the troops were attempting to stop an ongoing cross-border smuggling attempt.
According to BSF officials, during early hours of Sunday morning, a patrol spotted 6–7 Indian smugglers near the border fence throwing plastic bundles across to Bangladeshi counterparts waiting on the other side of the border fencing. Despite warnings and a blank round fired in the air, the smugglers continued the operation. When a jawan advanced to prevent the contraband from being taken across, he noticed that the Bangladeshi smugglers were armed with sharp weapons.
As the situation escalated, the jawan replaced his blank-round magazine with a live-round magazine. This provoked the smugglers, who charged at him. One of them struck his weapon with a dah (sharp weapon), and in the ensuing scuffle a live round was unintentionally fired. The bullet hit one of the Bangladeshi smugglers, who collapsed on the spot.
The group attempted to flee, dragging the injured man for some distance before abandoning him and escaping toward Bangladesh. The injured smuggler was taken to Krishnaganj Hospital, where he was declared dead.
A search of the area led to the recovery of a cutter, four sharp weapons, 96 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup, and two bottles of foreign liquor. The body and seized items have been handed over to Krishnaganj Police, and an FIR has been filed.
Till Sunday evening the slain smuggler could not be identified.
A spokesperson of the South Bengal Frontier of BSF in Calcutta stated that its troops continue to act with restraint despite increasing attacks by cross-border smuggling groups. Officials said the issue has been repeatedly raised with the Border Guard Bangladesh, but inadequate action has emboldened criminal networks along the border.