BGB says Indian man arrested after gunfight

An Indian man was injured and arrested after an alleged gunfight between a group of suspected smugglers and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) along the Barlekha border in Moulvibazar on Thursday night, according to a BGB press release.

The BGB identified the arrested person as Balai Das. A foreign-made pistol, two rounds of .22-bore ammunition and 500 yaba pills were recovered from him, claimed the BGB.

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Lt Col Ataur Rahman, commander of BGB-52 Beanibazar Battalion, said on information that some Indian smugglers were using the Kumarshail border to smuggle drugs and firearms into Bangladesh, a patrol team took up position in Kumarshail around 10:00pm on Thursday.

When a group of suspected smugglers arrived in the area, BGB personnel challenged them, the force claimed.
The group then allegedly opened fire on the BGB members, and the “border guards returned fire in self-defence”, according to the BGB.

During the alleged gunfight, the suspected smugglers managed to flee but Balai Das was injured and left behind and later arrested.

Operations are underway to identify and arrest the other members of the alleged syndicate, said BGB.