A Border Security Force constable allegedly shot dead an inspector and a jawan at an outpost near the Bangladesh frontier in North Dinajpur district on Tuesday early morning, said sources in the BSF who didn’t explain what had triggered the incident.

Uttam Sutradhar, the accused constable, surrendered before the commander of the company to which he belonged and was arrested by police later.

Sutradhar hails from Tripura and was assigned to 146 Battalion of the force. He was on duty near the Maldakhand border outpost, around 30km from here.

“Around 2.30am, he fired two rounds in blank from his service rifle. An inspector, who is also the second-in-command of the company, and a constable rushed to the spot from where the gunshots rang. Sutradhar fired at them and both died on the spot,” said a source in the BSF.

The deceased were inspector Mahendra Singh Bhatti, 47, and constable Anuj Kumar, 45. While Bhatti was from Amritsar, Kumar belonged to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

“There was no quarrel or scuffle between the deceased and the accused. The actual reason of the firing would be ascertained only after an inquiry is conducted,” the BSF source said.

Police reached the outpost after being informed of the incident by the BSF and sent bodies for post-mortem. The bodies would be handed over to the BSF after the autopsy, police sources said.

Some villagers, who declined to disclose their identities, said they had heard the sound of gunshots. “We have heard multiple gunshots and occasional shrieks as if some people were shouting at the top of their voices. We thought there were some unlawful activities on the border. None of us came out of the homes and at the dawn, we learnt about the incident,” said a villager.

Sumit Kumar, the superintendent of police, North Dinajpur, said: “The BSF constable fired from his service rifle which, we suspect, led to the death of two other personnel of the force. We have learnt that he was aggrieved with some senior officers. We need to interrogate him.”