KOLKATA: Suspected Bangladeshi miscreants crossed over the international border near Khanjipur in the Krishnanagar sector of Nadia and attacked Border Security Force (BSF) jawans with lethal weapons, early on Thursday.
A BSF head constable was seriously injured after the miscreants hurled three crude bombs at the Indian border guards. The head constable, who was identified as Shiv Shankaran, was first taken to the Tehatta primary health centre before being shifted to a hospital in Krishnanagar.
The incident occurred less than a week after a regional level meeting between the BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Dhaka where the Indian delegation expressed its concern about incidents of crime and cattle smuggling along the international border. The miscreants who attacked the BSF patrol on Thursday are suspected to be cattle smugglers.
"In spite of the violent attack, the BSF personnel on duty observed restraint and didn't open fire on the miscreants. We have adopted a non-lethal policy where jawans can only fire in self defence. The miscreants violated laws by crossing over the international border, damaging the fence which is Indian government property and attacking BSF personnel. They may have felt safe as we have been maintaining a non-lethal policy to reduce the number of casualties in BSF firing. We have registered a complaint with the BGB which should have prevented the miscreants from approaching the international border. A commandant level flag meeting was also convened where the BSF registered its protest," an officer said.
The miscreants, numbering 15-20, were first spotted as they entered through a gap in the fence that they had cut. On being challenged, the miscreants hurled three country-made bombs at the BSF personnel. Shankaran suffered severe splinter injuries to his right thigh and wrist.
"Over the last several years, Bangladeshi authorities had been raising the issue of deaths due to BSF firing along the international border. Finally, with the view to improve relations with Bangladesh, the Government of India decided to adopt a non-lethal policy along the border. Jawans were instructed not to open fire unless their lives are threatened. The number of deaths along the international border has come down and Bangladesh should now ensure that there is no illegal movement from its side along the border. After all, we have our security concerns and the morale of the troops to consider," another officer said
Bangladeshi miscreants attack BSF personnel - Times Of India