Two alleged Bangladeshi cattle smugglers were shot dead by the BSF in Kaimari, Coochbehar, West Bengal, on Wednesday after they adopted an “aggressive posture” in their attempt to “smuggle cattle heads,” despite repeated verbal warnings, according to an official release from the BSF.
According to the statement, the smugglers resorted to abusing and stone-pelting the BSF troops. According to a BSF statement, “on November 9, 2022, alert, BSF troops deployed on the Indo-Bangladesh international border observed suspicious movement of 15-20 miscreants on the Bangladesh side of the border fencing, who had illegally and willfully violated the security of the IB and were attempting to smuggle cattle heads by erecting cantilevers (Jhula) with the assistance of their Indian associates.”
“Alert BSF Jawans challenged them to stop their unwarranted activities and return to Bangladesh territory. However Bangladeshi miscreants did not pay any heed to repeated verbal warnings,” it added.
The statement further said that the smugglers adopted an aggressive posture by focusing high beam torch light on BSF troops as well as started abusing and heavy stone pelting on BSF troops.
“In order to foil the smugglers’ smuggling bid, BSF Jawan on duty initially lobbed 02 non-lethal stun grenades to deter and disperse the Bangladeshi miscreants,” it said. “However, the Bangladesh-based miscreants and their associates on the Indian side did not pay any heed and began encircling BSF personnel on duty equipped with sharp-edged weapons and bamboo sticks with the intention of inflicting grave injuries
“On sensing a threat to life and finding no other means to save lives, one BSF Jawan fired from his service weapon upon the miscreants. As a result, the miscreants fled the scene. BSF troops found one cantilever (Jhula) close to the fencing and a cattle head hanging in dead condition,” the statement added.
It further said, citing reports from Bangladesh, that two Bangladesh-based miscreants succumbed to bullet injuries sustained in the said firing incident.
