One suspected smuggler was shot dead and another sustained bullet injuries after clash between jawans of Border security Force (BSF) and suspected smugglers at bordering Durgapur village of Sonamura under Sepahijala district of Tripura on Wednesday night.

The deceased man has been identified as Saheed Miah of Durgapur village and another civilian namely Kabil Hussain of the same village is undergoing medical treatment at GB Hospital in Agartala.

BSF sources said that at about 9.30 PM of Wednesday night, around 30 to 40 Indian smugglers violating the curfew imposed in the border area, tried to smuggle contraband items from India to Bangladesh in the area of Nutanbari of Durgapur village under N C Nagar BOP of Sonamura police station. When BSF troops challenged them, the mob gheraoed and started shouting. Mob further tried to snatch the weapons from troops on duty, vandalized BSF duty point, damaged surveillance equipment and attacked BSF personnel with Dah and other sharp edged deadly weapons, causing grievous injury to three BSF Jawans.

BSF through its press statement added that one unknown miscreant tried to hit one of the constable's head with 'Dah' but hit him on the back as he could evade the attack which resulted in deep cut on his back and chest in addition to injuries on face and neck. Sensing imminent danger to life and threat to government property, BSF troops fired in self-defense to disperse the violent mob. The situation was defused with timely re-enforcement of BSF troops and Police personnel from  Sonamura police station.

After the clash , two civilians sustained injuries  and one civilian namely Shahid Miah succumbed to his injuries and another civilian namely Kabil Hussain is under treatment at GB Hospital in Agartala.

 DIG of BSF, Gokulnagar who was already present at the nearby location also reached the spot immediately and prevented the situation from escalating. BSF added that an FIR is being lodged with Sonamura police station in this regard.  BSF troops showed tremendous restraint during the incident while maintaining strict vigil on the border. The incident took place in the unfenced area of Sonamura area which is notorious for smuggling of contraband and other items, infiltration and attack on BSF personnel.

However, conflicting reports emerged from locals, who contended that the firing was unprovoked.

BSF sources also informed Northeast Herald that the BSF troopers had fired blank shots to disperse the mob of smugglers. Even a Pump Action Gun was used initially, but the group of smugglers didn’t show any signs of retreat. Instead, they indulged in stone pelting.

Eventually, the BSF Jawan had to open fire at the mob, said BSF.

The SP(Sepahijala) Bogati Jagadeeswar Reddy said that police have recorded the version of both BSF and villagers and forensic team has also visited the incident to collect evidences. He said that police started investigation and will do their impartial investigation Additional security forces have also deployed at Durgapur village to defused the escalating tension among border guards and villagers.