BSF JAWAN ATTACKED BY BANGLADESHI SMUGGLERS, ONE BANGLADESHI SMUGGLER KILLED IN ENCOUNTER
The incident took place on the night of December 22, 2021 at around 0140 hrs in which a Bangladeshi smuggler was gunned down near the International Boundary by jawan of the Border Out Post Nawada, 70 Battalion, BSF in the border area of Malda district of West Bengal.
The jawan posted in the area of the Border Out Post Nawada saw the movement of 15-20 suspected smugglers in Indian territory near the International Boundary at around 0140 hrs. At the same time, about 15-20 smugglers from Bangladesh side also came close to the Border fence violating the sanctity of the International Boundary with arms and sticks.
On seeing the movement of the smugglers, the BSF jawan on duty challenged to stop the smugglers. On hearing the voice of the jawan, Bangladeshi smugglers attacked the jawan with stones and sharp edged iron Dah. The jawan first tried to stop and drive away the smugglers by lobbing non-lethal stun grenade but it had no effect on group of smugglers. In the end, for the sake of self-defense and protection of life and property, he was compelled to fire with his personal weapon, due to which a Bangladeshi smuggler got injured near the fence. Whereas on hearing the sound of fire, the rest of the smugglers managed to escape, leaving the injured partner, taking advantage of the darkness.
Despite the attack, BSF performed the religion of humanity
Meanwhile, the Company Commander and other jawans reached the spot. Keeping humanity paramount, the Company Commander gave first aid to the injured smuggler and evacuated him to Malda Medical College(Hospital) for better treatment through BSF ambulance. Where the doctors of Malda Medical college Hospital declared the injured smuggler as dead.
During the first aid, the injured smuggler revealed his name as Ibrahim (Age 24 years), S/o-Abbu Tahir, village- Dhulipara, PS-Shivganj, District- Chapainwabganj, Bangladesh. During the search of the area, 197 bottles of Phensedyl including 01 mobile and 02 iron rods were recovered from the spot.
The injured smuggler also revealed that he had come to collect this Phensedyl on the behest of Bangladeshi smuggler Kalu Sheikh @ Kalam Sheikh, S/o– Anarul Sheikh, village – Bagichapara, PS – Shivganj, district – Chapainwabganj, Bangladesh. Presently, due to non-availability of Phensedyl in Bangladesh, the cost of a Phensedyl in the Indian market is around Rs.700/-. Whereas after crossing the International Boundary, the smugglers get Rs 2000/- per 100 bottles. In such a situation, small smugglers are lured by big smugglers to smuggle Phensedyl and small smugglers engendered their lives by being a victim of greed.
BSF handed over Protest Note to BGB
In a statement issued by the BSF South Bengal Frontier, it was stated that the place of residence of the smuggler is about 6 km from the International Boundary in Bangladesh, so the question also arises as to why this smuggler came 200 meters inside the Indian territory at midnight. The BSF has protested to the BGB asking them to stop the smugglers from their area from entering the Indian border and take strictest legal action against them.