Daijiworld Media Network - Agartala

Agartala, Mar 1: A Bangladeshi smuggler was killed, and a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan sustained serious injuries in a violent clash along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura’s Sepahijala district on Friday late evening.

A BSF spokesperson said that a group of 20 to 25 Bangladeshi smugglers, in collaboration with their Indian counterparts, infiltrated Indian territory near the Putia Border Outpost (BOP) for smuggling activities. When BSF troops confronted them, the intruders launched an attack, injuring a BSF jawan.

As the miscreants attempted to snatch a BSF personnel’s weapon, a jawan fired a round from a non-lethal Pump Action Gun (PAG) in self-defense. One Bangladeshi smuggler was injured in the firing and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Sepahijala. The injured BSF jawan is undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, BSF arrested 15 Bangladesh nationals, including three women and seven children, for illegally entering India. Three Indian touts, identified as Kajal Das, Ajit Das, and Prasanjit Debnath, were also nabbed in Kailashahar, Unakoti district, for facilitating illegal entry without valid documents.

In a joint operation with Tripura Police, BSF apprehended two more Bangladesh nationals in West Tripura while they attempted to cross over to Bangladesh.

Continuing its crackdown on cross-border smuggling, BSF foiled an attempt by Indian smugglers to transport narcotics into Bangladesh. On being challenged, the smugglers abandoned their consignment and fled. A thorough search led to the seizure of 20,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 2 crore in Sepahijala district.

Additionally, BSF troops confiscated contraband items worth Rs 16.80 lakh from various locations along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura.