In the Indian state of West Bengal that shares a very long border with Bangladesh, two cattle smugglers were killed in an encounter by the Border Security Force (BSF) near the Sitai locality in Cooch Bihar district in the early morning of November 12 at around 3 AM.
As per reports, one BSF trooper was also injured after smugglers attacked the BSF patrolling party which tried to stop them and was rushed to the hospital. According to the reports, the BSF team patrolling that area spotted some Bangladeshi smugglers trying to smuggle cattle by lifting them over the barbed wire fence using improvised cantilevers.
Two Bangladeshi smugglers were killed along India-Bangladesh border in Cooch Behar district, West Bengal. One BSF trooper also injured as the smugglers attacked the BSF party trying to stop them while entering Indian territory. The incident took place around 3 am today: BSF pic.twitter.com/SYOhxOyP95
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2021
They entered Indian territory by using ladders out of iron bars to cross the fence. When they were spotted by the BSF they were warned to go back, but the smugglers chose to attack BSF personnel with iron rods, sticks, and sickles.
The miscreants from Bangladesh side ventured into Indian side, tried to smuggle cattle using improvised bamboo cantilever. BSF had warned them to go back. Our troops utilised non lethal weapons to deter miscreants, but they attacked on BSF troops with ironrods & sticks: BSF pic.twitter.com/CzvY3BjfMV
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2021
Since the smugglers only used rods and sticks, the BSF, first resorted to using non-lethal weapons to deter them, however, the rules of engagement changed once the deadly smugglers attacked them that led to the death of these smugglers who steal cattle from border villages and cattle in these rural areas are a source of income.
BSF also issued a statement regarding the encounter. “On 12th Nov 2021 at about 0300 hrs, miscreants from Bangladesh side ventured into Indian territory and tried to smuggle cattle heads by establishing improvised bamboo cantilever. BSF domination ahead of the fence warned them to go back, but miscreants didn’t pay heed to BSF, “ it said.
However, journalist Anupam Mishra has claimed that not two but three smugglers had died in the encounter that took place with them and shared the video of a deceased smuggler.
Three dead in an encounter between BSF and cattle smugglers at coochbehar. Tmc claims that this incident is a fallout of centres notification expanding bsf jurisdiction to 50 km. Today Home secretary Ajay bhalla meeting with bengal home sec and chief sec on bsf jurisdiction issue pic.twitter.com/2FD5RZ4biv
— Anupam Mishra (@Anupammishra777) November 12, 2021
After the incident came to light the ruling TMC under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that this incident was a fallout of the centre expanding the jurisdiction of BSF to 50 km in the states of West Bengal, Punjab, and Assam. All these states are a hotbed of smuggling narcotics and weapons which is a serious threat to our national security.
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