An alleged Indian smuggler was critically injured this morning after Border Security Force (BSF) personnel opened fire near the Indo-Bangladesh border in the Putia area under Boxanagar police station in Sepahijala district of Tripura.
According to sources, the injured man has been identified as Kabir Hossain (35), a resident of Putia village along the border. Hossain, who is reportedly a listed smuggler in the region, had gone near the barbed wire fencing to send a consignment of smuggled goods across the border to his Bangladeshi associates.
Incident Details
The BSF’s 149th Battalion was on routine patrolling duty in the Putia Border Out Post (BOP) area when they noticed Hossain’s suspicious movements. The jawans warned him to stop and undergo a customary security check. However, sources claimed that Hossain tried to flee towards the fencing in an attempt to escape.
In response, the BSF personnel opened fire, hitting him and causing him to collapse on the ground. Immediately afterward, BSF jawans, along with local villagers, rushed him to Bishalgarh Sub-Divisional Hospital. Considering the severity of his injuries and excessive bleeding, doctors referred him to Agartala’s GBP Hospital for advanced treatment. His condition is reported to be critical.
Local Reactions
The firing incident has sparked tension among residents of Putia village. Many locals, who allegedly depend on cross-border smuggling for livelihood, expressed anger over the action of the security forces. They accused the current batch of BSF personnel stationed at the Putia BOP of being “trigger-happy” and alleged that such incidents create fear among villagers.
Some locals also claimed that BSF jawans had previously assaulted a gram pradhan of the area, adding to the growing resentment.
BSF’s Role in Border Security
The BSF has been consistently maintaining strict surveillance along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura, which is notorious for smuggling activities, including contraband goods, cattle, narcotics, and other items. Smugglers often take advantage of the porous stretches of the border, making it one of the sensitive zones for cross-border crimes.
While the BSF has not yet released an official statement on today’s incident, security sources maintain that force personnel act as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) when dealing with smuggling attempts or infiltration activities along the border.
Conclusion
The incident once again highlights the recurring challenge of smuggling in border villages of Tripura and the high-risk confrontations between security forces and local offenders. With Kabir Hossain battling for his life at GBP Hospital, the situation in Putia remains tense as villagers continue to protest the firing, demanding accountability from the BSF.