BSF commandant critically injured by cattle smugglers in Tripura

A Border Security Force (BSF) commandant was critically injured by cattle smugglers in Tripura and had to be flown to Kolkata for treatment, an official said here on Monday.

BSF troopers led by officiating Commandant Deepak Kumar Mondal of 145 Battalion were supervising guarding of the border along Bangladesh to prevent cattle smuggling. A vehicle of cattle smugglers hit the BSF officer, pushing him down a gorge, and he sustained grievous injuries, a BSF official said.

Mondal, accompanied by a BSF doctor, was flown to Kolkata on Monday and admitted to a private hospital there. His condition is very critical. Mondal hails from West Bengal, the official added.

The incident occurred late on Sunday night at Balerdepha under the Sonamura sub-division in western Tripura's Sepahijala district.

Tripura police on Monday detained the vehicle and arrested the driver.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (southern range) Arindam Nath rushed to the spot, 60 km south of Agartala, and inquired into the incident.

Tripura shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh with large parts of the border riverine, mountainous and unfenced, which helps illegal immigrants, intruders and smugglers easily cross over.

--IANS

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