A suspected Bangladeshi cattle smuggler was gunned down by the BSF on the international border on Saturday night.

Police recovered the body and are trying to identify the deceased man.

BSF sources said a gang was trying to smuggle cattle into Bangladesh through the border in the Bhabanipur area of Jajoil panchayat under the jurisdiction of Habibpur police station in Malda district.

“The BSF personnel of the 159th battalion asked the smugglers to stop. The smugglers then attacked the BSF personnel with sharp weapons, which made the force fire a few rounds in self-defence. While other smugglers scampered away, a body was found near the border,” said a source.

Although no official statement on the incident was issued by the BSF till Sunday evening, sources said the suspected smuggler was a resident of Gomastapur police station area in the Chapai-Nawabganj district of Bangladesh.

Sources in the BSF said with the advent of winter, smugglers were active in the border area.

“They try to take advantage of the fog cover to smuggle cattle and other contraband items into Bangladesh. Our troops are on alert to foil such attempts,” said a source.

Arrest over theft bid

A youth has been arrested in connection with an alleged burglary attempt at an ATM in Malda district on Saturday

Sources said Rifaz Ahmed from Nayagram near Kaliachak had been arrested on the basis of a written complaint filed by a private company that operates ATMs.