BSF jawans open fire after row with villagers

Guwahati, Sep 14 (UNI) A BSF patrol party today opened fire to disperse a group of local villagers following a scuffle over seized cattle from the Indo-Bangla border in Assam's Dhubri district.

The BSF sources said a patrol party had seized seven cattle, worth over Rs two lakh, along the international border near Saitanwari post at about 0300 hours.

As the BSF team took the cattle to the post from the BOP three hours later, the local villagers gheraoed them and tried to manhandle the team, the sources said. The BSF personnel had to fire two rounds in the air to disperse the villagers, though no one was hurt.

Later, both the parties lodged separate FIRs, with the villagers claiming that the BSF personnel had actually taken the cattle from their homes. The village is situated less than 900 mts from the International Border. Smuggling, including that of cattle, is a major problem at this sector of the Indo-Bangla border.

UNI SG PC RC KN1757