The Border Security Force (BSF) arrested two Bangladeshis and three Indian nationals from different locations of north Bengal on Tuesday.

Among the Indians, include a tout who used to help people illegally cross the India-Bangladesh border.

According to BSF sources, troops of the sixth battalion of the force posted at Bhootbari border outpost in Cooch Behar district apprehended two Bangladeshis while they were heading towards Siliguri on a motorcycle after illegally crossing the border.

The duo has been identified as Mohammad Maidul Islam and Mohammad Mizanur Rehman, both residents of Lalmonirhat district in Bangladesh. Litton Mondal, an Indian tout based in Bhaktinagar area on the outskirts of Siliguri, who had helped them infiltrate, has also been arrested. Later, all three were handed over to Mekhliganj police.

In another incident, troops of 152 battalion of the force posted at Belagachi border outpost in North Dinajpur district held Shafiq, a resident of Kadigaon under Islampur police station, while he was trying to smuggle cough syrup bottles from India to Bangladesh. Also, 135 battalion of the BSF nabbed Saddam Hussain, a resident of Chopra in the same district, for suspiciously roaming near the border. Both have been handed over to the police.

The BSF also carried out anti-smuggling drives in different places along the border and seized a number of contraband items worth around Rs 3.10 lakh, said sources.

On Tuesday night, a team of the Kotwali police station in Cooch Behar apprehended a local resident from the Tapurhat-Baganbari area and seized an improvised pistol and one round of live cartridge from him.

Pappu Hossain is a resident of Nakkati village located on the outskirts of Cooch Behar town.