An Indian national has been detained with a foreign-made pistol, two rounds of .22-bore ammunition and 500 Yaba tablets following an exchange of fire between alleged smugglers and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members along the Kumarshail border of Moulvibazar.
The arrest was made during a special operation conducted by the Beanibazar Battalion (52 BGB) on Thursday night, according to a press release issued by the border force on Friday morning, reports UNB.
BGB said it launched the operation after receiving information that a group of smugglers from India would attempt to bring a consignment of weapons and drugs into Bangladesh through the Kumarshail border.
A special patrol team took position in the area at around 10m on Thursday. When the suspected smugglers arrived, BGB members challenged them.
Sensing the presence of the border guards, the smugglers opened fire, prompting BGB members to retaliate in self-defence, according to the force.
The smugglers then attempted to flee the area. BGB members chased them and managed to detain one Indian national.
A foreign-made pistol, two rounds of .22-bore ammunition and 500 Yaba tablets were recovered from his possession, the BGB said.
During a preliminary interrogation, the detainee admitted to being involved with a cross-border smuggling gang, according to the border force.
BGB suspects that the recovered weapons and drugs were brought from India for distribution in Bangladesh.
Intelligence teams of the border force are continuing efforts to identify and arrest other smugglers who escaped during the incident.
Lt Col Md Ataur Rahman Sujan, commanding officer of Beanibazar Battalion, said BGB members are maintaining the highest level of vigilance and professionalism to prevent the smuggling of drugs, weapons and other illegal items through the border.
“Alongside maintaining border security, such operations will continue to protect the country’s young generation from the dangers of drugs,” he said.
