(District-Malda)
An encounter broke out between Bangladeshi smugglers and Border Security Force (BSF) jawans near the Indo-Bangladesh International Boundary in Malda district of Bengal. The BSF jawan was attacked by a group of Bangladeshi smugglers for forcibly smuggling them, after which the jawan killed a Bangladeshi smuggler in retaliation during the encounter, officials said.
The BSF’s South Bengal Frontier has issued a statement saying that the incident took place on 08 January, 2022 (Saturday) in the area of Border Out Post Pannapur, 159 Battalion in Malda district.
Public Relations Officer, South Bengal Frontier, BSF stated that at around 6 am, the jawans posted in the area of Border Out Post Pannapur noticed movement of 15-20 suspected smugglers with animals in Indian territory near Fence on the International Boundary. Smugglers were trying to smuggle them across the International Boundary. At the same time, about 15-20 smugglers with arms and batons (lathi) from Bangladesh side also entered 200 meters inside the Indian territory, violating the International Boundary. On seeing the movement of the smugglers, the BSF jawan on duty warned them to stop. On hearing the voice of the jawan, Bangladeshi smugglers attacked the jawan with stones and daggers( Hasua). After this, the jawan tried to stop and tried that smugglers should avoid the casuality by first firing non-lethal weapon in self-defence, but it was of avail. In the last, in order to protect life and property, jawan was compelled to fire with a personal weapon, due to which a Bangladeshi smuggler got injured near the fence after being shot. At the same time, on hearing the sound of fire, the rest of the smugglers fled away taking advantage of the darkness, leaving the injured partner behind.
Meanwhile, the Company Commander and other jawans reached the spot. Despite the attack, keeping humanity paramount, the Company Commander of BSF also tried to save the injured smuggler by administering him first aid but the smuggler was dead. The smuggler has been identified as Maqbool Hussain (25), Village – Krishnasabad, District – Nagaon, Bangladesh. During the search of the area, two cattle were rescued from the spot.
Small smugglers are losing their lives due to greed
Infact, petty smugglers are losing their lives by getting injured during smuggling. Kingpins smugglers of Bangladesh involve Bangladeshi people in smuggling by luring them with money and small smugglers waste their precious lives by falling prey to this greed.
