Cattle traffickers attack the BSF near the Bengal border; one is apprehended, but the rest flee

The Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended a gang of 15 to 20 suspected cattle smugglers at the border outpost Daribas in West Bengal's Coochbehar sector on Thursday around 2 a.m.

The BSF men confronted them, but they were encircled and attacked. One of the miscreants was injured and transported to the hospital after one of the jawans fired in self-defense.

The miscreants took advantage of the dense fog and darkness of night to flee the scene, although one scoundrel was injured on the shoulder in the process, according to BSF.

"BSF Jawan fired from Pump Action Gun to disperse these miscreants but they attempted to snatch weapon from one of the jawans and inflicted injuries to one of them. Sensing eminent threat to his life, Jawan fired in air from his weapon in self-defense but these warning shots could not deter them & continued to encircle the jawans," said BSF in a statement.

"The injured miscreant was given first aid immediately at BOP Gitaldah by the unit doctor and subsequently evacuated to Civil Hospital Dinhata and further to MJN Hospital at Coochbehar," it added.

According to the Force, the injured miscreant is an active livestock smuggler, and his wife is also involved in trans-border crimes and is currently being held in Coochbehar Jail under the NDPS Act.