Guwahati: Group of 15 to 20 Indian and Bangladeshi smugglers forcibly tried to smuggle cattle heads from India to Bangladesh by taking advantage of the unfenced riverine border, thick foggy weather conditions and poor visibility in Coochbehar, West Bengal, on Wednesday (December 22) night.
BSF troops challenged them, but they encircled and attacked the troops. Further, BSF Jawan fired from Pump Action Gun to disperse the miscreants, but they attempted to snatch the weapon from one of the Jawan and inflicted injury to one of them. Sensing an imminent threat to his life, one of the BSF guards fired in the air in self-defence. But these warning shots could not deter them, and they continued to encircle the troop.
In Self-defence and to deter them from smuggling, one Jawan fired a few shots again. In the process, one miscreant was hit on his shoulder, and the remaining miscreants fled away from the spot by taking advantage of dense fog and poor visibility. The injured miscreants were given first aid immediately at BOP Gitaldaha by the BSF doctor and subsequently evacuated to civil hospital Dinhata and further to MJN Hospital at Coochbehar, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Deceased Indian Smuggler has been identified as Lutfar Rahman, son of Daibar Ali of Coochbehar (WB). He was an active cattle courier, and his wife Laizul Bibi was also involved in Trans-border Crimes. BSF troops apprehended her on November 11, 2020. Presently, she is at Coochbehar Jail under NDPS Act. Further, another dead body of one Indian Smuggler, namely Jahidul Miya, son of Bajla Sheikh of Coochbehar (WB), was recovered from the river Singhimari. He was also an active cattle courier in the area.
BSF duty peers were injured in this instant incident and are under medical treatment at BSF Hospital. Later, during the search of said area, 01 cattle head, 01 mobile phones, voter ID card, baton and sharp-edged weapon were recovered from the spot. FIR has been lodged at Dinhata police station, Coochbehar (WB). Because of the vulnerability of border, heightened activities of trans border criminals and anti-national elements on the border, BSF troops are always alert towards the issues of trans border crimes and are making all-out efforts to make Indo-BD international border crime-free.
