A tense situation has surrounded the border of Assam and West Bengal as the forest guards from the latter state shot at local footballers from the former state in Kokrajhar’s Gossaigaon area on Thursday.
According to sources, the incident was reported in Dhanguri area where West Bengal forest guards aimed at a local football team who were playing and shot at them.
At least seven persons, including women, present at the spot sustained injuries.
The injured, Rihul Muchahary, Manjila Basumatary, Raj Mithran, Anita Basumatary, Swapan Barman, Pabitra Basumatary and Sanjeeta Basumatary, were rushed to nearby hospital for treatment.
It has come to fore that around 15 forest guards from West Bengal crossed the border and entered the football camp without permission and attacked on the football team.
They further destroyed five motorcycles belonging to the locals of Assam and blank fired at least twice near the area.
Meanwhile, Sapkata Police have reached the spot and launched a probe into the matter.
Last year, a firing incident took place near the India-Bangladesh border in Karimganj.
According to sources, the firing incident was reported in Nilam Bazar where the Assam police started an ambush, based on information received, to apprehend miscreants who tried to enter the border illegally.
Interacting with media, DSP GD Sarma had said, “After receiving the information about miscreants entering the border, we reached the ambush area and challenged them to stop however, didn’t listen to our instructions. As a result we had to open fire at them.”
“As the area was covered with mud, they took advantage of it and fled the scene. Although we missed the chance to nab them, we started to search the area and recovered a sharp weapon, sandals, rope, stolen cattle, and many more. We are still continuing our search,” he said.
“At this point I would like to say that Assam Police will be stringent with cattle smugglers regardless of the nationality they belong,” he added.
It was alleged that those miscreants had several times attempted to steal cattle from the residences near border areas.