Two youths of in Sovapur village of Malda district near the India-Bangladesh border were injured by bullets fired by BSF personnel early on Thursday.

BSF officials have claimed their personnel had to fire two rounds to prevent the smuggling of cough syrups to Bangladesh. Relatives of the injured youths, both brothers, however, have claimed they were innocent and the BSF had fired without provocation.

The injured, Tutul Sheikh, 28, and his brother Byron Sheikh, 24, are from Sovapur under Baishnabnagar police station of the district. While the bullet hit Tutul on his right hand, Byron sustained a bullet injury in his abdomen. Both are under treatment at Malda Medical College and Hospital.

According to BSF sources, while personnel of the 78th battalion were patrolling at the border in the night hours, they found 20-odd persons near the border apparently trying to smuggle the cough syrup bottles over the fences to Bangladesh.

“As our men challenged them, the youths attacked the team with sticks, iron rods and sharp weapons. One of our men got injured and had to fire one round in self-defence. The gang then went after another jawan who fired another round. This made the gang members escape the spot,” said a BSF source.

The border guards have also claimed that smugglers were waiting at the other side of the border to receive the illegal consignment in sacks.

“Later, our men frisked the area and seized 145 bottles of the cough syrup which costs around Rs 27,000, but the youths had fled,” the source added.

Mozaffar Sheikh, the father of the two injured youths, claimed his sons were never involved in smuggling.

“They were fired at without valid reason. This is unfortunate,” he said.

Officials of state intelligence agencies, however, have ratified the statement of BSF officials.

“There can be no reason for the two youths to loiter near the fences at 1am. Even so, we are trying to gather more information,” said a police officer.