The Border Security Force (BSF) on June 25 opened blank fire in the air to dispel miscreants, who pelted stones and empty beer bottles at the BSF troops after they foiled an attempt to smuggle clothing items from along the international border in East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya.
At least, two BSF personnel were injured during the incident which took place at Umsyiem along the Dawki-Pynursla road.
In a statement issued on June 26, the BSF said the troops deployed at Standing Patrol Base old Umsyiem observed movement of miscreants on Dawki-Pynursla road near international border.
BSF party rushed to the spot and on seeing them, miscreants threw away head loads and fled away. BSF party searched the area and recovered bundles of sarees worth Rs 50,000.
On the same day, BSF also foiled another smuggling attempt by seizing clothing items worth Rs 2,21,000 from the same border area.
“After a while, some miscreants gathered near the post, entered into the BSF post and started pelting stones and empty beer bottles towards BSF troops. The post commander tried to pacify a group of miscreants but they did not stop pelting stones and bottles. 2 BSF personnel sustained injury. Sensing danger to life and property, BSF personnel fired 4 rounds in the air,” the BSF said.
The statement also said that Pynursla police station was informed and accordingly a police party reached the spot and the situation was brought under control.
No injury to civilian was reported in the BSF firing.
PRO BSF Meghalaya said that on June 5, 2023, a similar type of incident had happened in the same area where BSF seized clothing items worth more than Rs 1 lakh and that time also miscreants pelted stones on BSF troops in which one BSF person got head injury.
The Umsiem area is frequently exploited by smugglers to smuggle cattle heads, clothing items, cosmetics and other contraband items to Bangladesh and many smuggling syndicates are active in the area who try to derail peace in the border area just for their own vested interest, he added.
