Clash at Putia border in Sepahijala district: Two suspected smugglers injured in BSF firing

The conflict between Border Guards and suspected smuggling in different border areas of Tripura has been continues and its new edition, two suspected smugglers were injured when BSF jawans fired rubber bullets at them at Putia border of Kalamchowra area under Sepahijala district on Saturday during their smuggling bid.

Sources said that during the clash, BSF in retaliation fired two rubber bullets, as a result minor Indian boys suffered injuries and they were shifted to Bishalgarh hospital with multiple injuries.

The injured persons were referred to the GBP hospital in Agartala, where they were admitted and their condition is stated to be stable.

Sources added that when a group of Indian smugglers were trying to smuggle different items towards Bangladesh, on-duty jawans of BSF tried to stop them, but all of sudden suspected smugglers were engaged in clashes with border guards.

BSF jawans who were on routine patrolling along the India-Bangladesh border at Putia under Kalamchowra police station spotted a few youths moving towards the 'zero line' with goods to smuggle into Bangladesh, said police.

While speaking with media persons, Officer in Charge (OC), Kalamchowra police station, Arup Debbarma said that the BSF jawans asked them to stop, but they did not pay heed and engaged in a clash with BSF jawans. Finding no other option, the jawans fired rubber bullets at them.

He said the injured were shifted to the GBP hospital, and both of them are out of danger as the jawans used non-lethal weapons.

While hospital sources said that both suspected Indian smugglers are minor boys, police initially started an investigation to establish the identity of the injured youths.

Police also said that they have deployed additional forces at Putia border and started patrolling to defuse escalating tension among villagers and border guards.