Cattlelifter killed in BSF-BDR fire

Statesman News Service

BALURGHAT/MALDA: July 31: Tension prevails in areas close to the Goeshpur outpost on the Bangladesh border in South Dinajpur district following an exchange of fire between the Border Security Force and the Bangladesh Rifles, last night. A Bangladeshi intruder, allegedly a cattle lifter, was shot dead in the firing. According to the acting DIG Malda Sector Mr RC Gaur, the BDR reacted all on a sudden when BSF forces tried to restrict the Bangladeshi intruders and fired 20 rounds at the BSF. The BSF retaliated firing four rounds. While one of the intruders died on the spot, three of his associates managed to flee across the border. The South Dinajpur police recovered the intruder’s body this morning and sent it for autopsy to the Balurghat district hospital. According to BSF officials, BDR jawans often try to cover up for the intruders from across the border by opening fire at the defending BSF. ” It is common practice with the BDR to actually help Bangladeshi cattle lifters pinch and smuggle cows from India. Last night’s incident smacks of a similar design, but they were unsuccessful this time,” the BSF official, informed. Supporting the BSF official’s allegation, Mr Imran Wahab, ASP Balurghat said: “ At least 24 rounds were exchanged between the BSF and the BDR last night. The BDR jawans opened fire on the BSF without warning when they were chasing out the infiltrators. It looks they were covering up for the smugglers.” Admitting that the shooting incident has caused panic in the area, Mr Wahab added that the situation was under control and that the police were watchful. In the meantime, the BSF have arrested three including two Bangladeshi nationals at the Bhimpur border outpost under Hili police. The arrested were trying to sneak into Bangladesh. It was learnt that of the three arrested, Motilal Singha is a resident of Naxalbari. The BSF and police are interrogating him, checking out his bonafides since KLO and ULFA militants have used the border to cross over to Bangladesh in the past.