SHILLONG: At least five people, including two personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF), sustained injuries after a mob attacked a border outpost in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district on Sunday, officials said.
The incident occurred in Umsyiem village near Dawki town, approximately 100km south of the state capital at around 10pm, officials said on Monday.
Pradip Kumar, the inspector general of BSF Meghalaya Frontier, said, “Over the past few days, we have confiscated numerous items intended for smuggling to Bangladesh and identified the smugglers. As a result, they instigated a mob to attack the outpost, compelling the BSF to respond by firing warning shots”.
The BSF issued a statement revealing their seizure of clothing worth more than Rs 2.7 lakh, intended for smuggling purposes.
“The BSF foiled two smuggling bids on Sunday. In the morning, they seized clothes worth Rs 2.21 lakh at Umsyiem village. At night, the BSF seized sarees worth Rs 50,000 dumped by smugglers in the same village,” a BSF spokesperson said.
The BSF suspected that the smugglers brought the crowd in retaliation to the seizure and gheraoed the outpost.
At least two BSF personnel were injured after they were hit by stones pelted by the mob, he said, adding some of the villagers tried to enter the outpost forcefully but they were pushed back.
An eyewitness, who claimed that three villagers were also injured in the face-off, said the incident took place when a vehicle with three occupants allegedly broke down near the outpost.
“This infuriated the BSF who accused the trio of being smugglers and charged them. The news of the attack spread and nearby villagers came to their rescue,” he said.
The villagers also accused the BSF personnel of being drunk on duty, which was refuted by the IG.
Kumar said local police and senior BSF officials rushed to the spot to contain the situation.
The BSF has initiated an internal inquiry to probe into the matter, he added.
(With inputs from PTI)