In a tense confrontation with a group of armed Bangladeshi smugglers, India’s Border Security Force (BSF) neutralized one of them near the India-Bangladesh border fence, approximately 150 yards inside Indian territory in West Tripura on Sunday morning.
According to a BSF statement, the incident occurred at around 07:30 hrs at the Border Out Post (BOP) Kalamchera. The BSF personnel on duty observed a large group of smugglers armed with sharp-edged weapons attempting to smuggle goods across the International Border. When challenged to stop, the smugglers ignored the warnings, became aggressive, and tried to encircle the BSF jawan on duty with the intent to assault him and snatch his personal weapon.
The BSF personnel, identified as Constable Rajeev Kumar, initially used non-lethal means to deter the smugglers. However, the smugglers were undeterred and continued their aggressive actions. In self-defence and sensing imminent danger to life and government property, Kumar was compelled to fire one round from his INSAS rifle, resulting in the death of one smuggler. The deceased was later identified as Anwar Hussain, 35, a resident of Mirpur in Bangladesh’s Comilla district.
Following the incident, the BSF conducted a thorough search of the area and recovered a significant quantity of sugar, four machetes, and wooden planks. The force highlighted that this confrontation was not an isolated incident, noting a similar occurrence on June 2 where the same group of Bangladeshi smugglers had brutally assaulted a BSF constable, attempted to drag him towards the Bangladesh side, and snatched his personal weapon and radio set.
The BSF reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Bangladesh border and emphasized its ongoing cooperation with the Border Guards Bangladesh to address cross-border smuggling and related security issues.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the BSF in securing India’s borders and the critical importance of their vigilance and preparedness in dealing with threats to life and government property.
