BSF opens fire to disperse crowd, Govt keeping a close watch on situation: CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 26, 2023

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said the state government is keeping a close watch on the situation along the international border after BSF opened blank fire in the air to disperse the crowd.

Addressing the media, Sangma said that the situation is under control and the government is keeping a close watch on the development.

He said that the incident, which took place last evening, was after some individuals involved in smuggling of certain products were caught following which a crowd had gathered and started pelting stones at the BSF personnel.

“And in retaliation to that, four rounds were fired in the air and not at the individuals. In the stone pelting incident, there was some commotion that took place and there were slight injuries to certain individuals but it was not because of bullets or not because of action from their side,” Sangma added.

Stating that the government has ordered enquiry into the matter, the chief minister however reiterated that the four rounds that were fired in the air was to disperse the crowd and said, “As I said it was (related to) smuggling, a concern issue and material were seized and reaction was there from the people based on which stone pelting took place and to contain the situation this was done.”

Asked on people opposing the BSF’s presence in residential areas, Sangma said that the government will definitely take up if there are such concerns.

“But as I said from reports I received it was related to some kind of smuggling and because that was caught, there was seizure of the products smuggled. It was a reaction to that,” he said while informing that further details are awaited.