Four people, including two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, sustained injuries on Sunday evening after a scuffle broke out between the border guards and civilians in Umsyiem village near Dawki.
Differing narratives have emerged from the incident, which is not the first in recent times. The most serious saw the BSF shoot dead a man transporting cattle on May 5 near Pynursla; the border force claimed that the man, Roning Nongkynrih, was smuggling cattle and had ignored their order to halt his truck when challenged while the family members said that the cattle were legal and that Nongkynrih was shot in cold blood.
This time, the BSF, through a press release, stated that personnel from its 4th Battalion observed movement of “miscreants” on the Dawki-Pynursla road near the international border. On seeing the BSF approach, the miscreants abandoned their head loads and fled. The BSF recovered bundles of sarees worth Rs 50,000 from the spot. In another smuggling attempt that was foiled in the same area, the BSF seized clothing worth Rs 2.21 lakh.
Later, “some miscreants” gathered near the BSF’s post, entered it, and began pelting the troops with stones and empty beer bottles. The commander tried to pacify them but without success. Two BSF personnel were injured in the pelting and, sensing further danger to life and property, the jawans fired four rounds into the air to disperse the crowd.
Pynursla police were informed and they reached the spot and the situation was brought under control. The BSF press release made it a point to mention that no civilians were injured in the firing.
A similar incident occurred on June 5 wherein the BSF seized clothing worth more than Rs 1 lakh and were also pelted with stones; one BSF troop received a head injury.
The area is frequently exploited by smugglers to take cattle, clothing, cosmetics and contraband over into Bangladesh. “Many smuggling syndicates are active in the area [and] try to derail peace in the border area just for their own vested interest,” the BSF said.
Speaking separately on the issue, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that two vehicles used to transport the sarees had been seized by the BSF.
Reports have emerged claiming that the BSF had fired directly at civilians but Sangma informed that four gunshots were fired into the air and not at the crowd. “The BSF fired in the air to disperse the crowd. As of now we are told the situation is under control but we will keep a close watch,” he said.
Contrastingly, Deputy CM Prestone Tynson, who is the MLA of Pynursla, said that it was “too early” to say whether the goods were being smuggled or transported legally.
“We will order an inquiry to know exactly what happened,” Tynsong said.
