BSF jawan, villager killed in clash in Tripura; probe ordered

A Border Security Force jawan was lynched by villagers after a man was killed in alleged firing by the security personnel during a clash, which broke out near the Indo-Bangla border.

The BSF personnel were attacked by villagers while they were chasing smugglers during a routine patrol on Friday night prompting them to open fire in ‘self defence’ at South Ramnagar, BSF Deputy Inspector General B S Rawat said.

Bhanu Mia, brother of the villager Ismail Mia who was killed in BSF action, in a FIR lodged at West Agartala police station said that the border guards opened fire after picking up a quarrel with them when they were resting near a pond.

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident and security has been beefed up with deployment of Tripura State Rifles as tension prevailed in the area. The DIG said the villagers attacked the security men with lathis. The BSF initially fired in the air to disperse the mob and then opened fire in “self defence” in which the villager, Ismail Mia was killed and nine others were injured.  

BSF soldier Sandeep Kumar was then lynched by villagers, he said, adding a BSF man was also injured. Inspector General (Police control) N C Das also confirmed that a villager and a BSF jawan were killed in the violence.

The injured were rushed to G B hospital where nine of them were admitted. The BSF man was discharged after first-aid, hospital sources said.

District Magistrate of West Tripura district, Abhishek Singh, who visited the area on Saturday, said a magisterial level inquiry has been ordered into the incident. “Inquiry has already started and I am doing it. Result would be known after the inquiry is over. Stern action would be taken if any body is found guilty. No one would be spared,” he said.

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