TURA, April 19: The 28 Bn BSF of BOP Baluaghat on Tuesday apprehended a smuggler from Bangladesh, who confessed to partaking in various cattle smuggling bids and damaging BSF’s border machines to ensure hurdle-free smuggling. The BSF has also seized from his possession two heads of cattle which were being smuggled across the border.
According to a statement, an operation was launched by a team of BSF personnel following a tip-off about a dacoity at Bollonggre village in West Garo Hills and a cattle theft.
Following the launch of the operation, a group of smugglers along with the cattle were spotted by the BSF personnel, who gave the former a chase. While others managed to flee by taking advantage of the hilly terrain and the thick vegetation, one smuggler was nabbed by the BSF personnel.
The smuggler, who landed in the BSF net, has been identified as 24-year-old Humayun Kabir alias Saddam of Beparipara village under Kurigram district of Bangladesh.
It was later revealed by villagers that the stolen cattle belonged to Methen Marak and Arjun Sangma, both residents of Garagre village. They also informed that the same group had committed a dacoity in the shop of one Khalek R Sangma, and stolen some cash and other valuables.
Both the theft and the dacoity reportedly took place in the intervening night of April 18 and 19.
During interrogation, the apprehended smuggler confessed to not only being involved in various cases of cattle smuggling but also breaching the border fence on many occasions in the past.
He also revealed that he was also involved in the theft of BSF Intruder Alarm as it hindered their transborder movement.
The arrested smuggler and the seized items were later handed over to police.