BSF opens fire at B’deshi smugglers, stops infiltration bid
Times of India | 12 January 2025
12 Kolkata: BSF personnel opened fire at smugglers, preventing infiltration at the India-Bangladesh border on the early hours of Saturday.
BSF officials said around 2.10am on Saturday, at the border post Nawada in Malda, a jawan saw the movement of 15-20 armed Bangladeshi smugglers towards the fence. Smugglers were present on the Indian side of the wire as well. The latter were trying to move into Bangladesh.
"The one on duty immediately alerted his fellow jawans and challenged the smugglers. The smugglers didn't stop and flashed high beam torches in the jawans' eyes. The jawan fired 2 blank rounds in the air to disperse the smugglers, but it had no effect on them. Instead, they attacked the jawan with sharp weapons and sticks," said a senior BSF official. In response, the jawan fired 2 live rounds at the smugglers. By then, other jawans reached the spot, forcing the smugglers to flee.
After a thorough search of the spot, 572 bottles of Phensedyls, a sword and a torch were recovered, BSF said in a statement.
According to the statement, similar attacks were reported at border outposts Nandanpur and Farjipara in Murshidabad and border outposts Harinathpur and Churiyantpur in Malda.
"In these places, unsuccessful attempts of smuggling and infiltration were made. Jawans, in self-defence, fired stun grenades, PAG and other weapons, foiling the attempts of smuggling and illegal infiltration. Cattle and other illegal goods were seized," the statement read.
"Despite regular flag meetings with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to address these forced infiltration and attack attempts by Bangladeshi criminals, no concrete actions have been taken by the BGB, emboldening the smugglers and criminals," the BSF South Bengal Frontier spokesperson said.