Agartala, Aug 19 (IANS): Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has handed over two injured Indian troopers to the Border Security Force (BSF) after they were kidnapped by Bangladeshi smugglers, police said here on Wednesday.

During a routine patrol on Tuesday, three BSF troopers challenged and chased some Bangladeshi smugglers. The BSF personnel fired several rounds in the air but the smugglers, accompanied by villagers, overpowered the two BSF men and took them inside Bangladesh territory.

Another BSF constable managed to flee and reported to the BSF BOP (Border Outpost).

"After a flag meeting between the officials of BSF and BGB, the two injured jawans (troopers) were handed over to BSF on Tuesday night. The BSF officers are yet to share any information about the incident with the police authorities," police spokesperson Uttam Kumar Bhowmik told IANS.

The incident took place at Balerdhepa in Sepahijala district, around 80 km from Agartala and Comilla town of Bangladesh.

According to unofficial sources, BSF troopers Mukesh Kumar, 34, and Mir Islam, 37, before they were handed over to the BSF, have been admitted to the army hospital in Comilla for medical treatment as they were injured by the kidnappers.

The BSF officials have approached the BGB to return the abducted troopers at the earliest.

Tripura shares 856-km border with Bangladesh and some portion of the border still remains unfenced.