Shillong, June 26: The BSF has clarified that the smugglers pelted stones at the personnel posted at Umsiem in East Khasi Hills border resulting in the forces firing in the air on Sunday night.
In a statement issued on Monday, the BSF said on the night of June 25, the troops of 4th battalion deployed at Standing Patrol Base Old Umsyiem observed the movement of miscreants on Dawki-Pynursla road near International Border.
The BSF party rushed to the spot and on seeing the personnel, the miscreants threw away head loads and fled away.
The BSF party searched the area and recovered bundles of sarees worth Rs 50,000. On the same day, the BSF also foiled another smuggling attempt by seizing clothing items worth Rs 2,21,000 from the same area.
After a while, some miscreants gathered near the post, crossed the BSF post and started pelting stones and empty beer bottles towards BSF troops.
“The post commander tried to pacify group of miscreants but they did not stop pelting stones and bottles. Two BSF personnel sustained injuries. Sensing danger to life and property, the BSF personnel fired four rounds in the air. The SHO PS Pynursla was informed, accordingly police party reached the spot and situation was brought under control. No injury to civil person was reported in the BSF firing”, the BSF said.
The PRO BSF Meghalaya said that on June 5, similar incident 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 received head injury.
The official said Umsiem area is frequently exploited by smugglers to transport 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 interests.
