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Indo-Bangla international border in Tripura (File image)

Two villagers have been injured in Melaghar in Tripura’s Sepahijala district during a clash with Border Security Force (BSF) jawans.

Sukanta Paul, one of the injured also sustained a bullet injury during the clash that occurred on Tuesday night.

According to locals, the BSF jawans had arrived at Takchapara village under Melaghar police station on Tuesday night for a search operation.

BSF had information that a huge stock of cannabis (ganja) had been stored in the village.

At the same time, a religious programme was underway at the village, where a large number of villagers had assembled.

Locals alleged that the BSF jawans switched off the electric connection in the area and then started their search.

Also read: Tripura: BSF kills student on suspicion of being cattle smuggler

As such the villagers got scared and started running helter and skelter.

The villagers alleged without the BSF jawans opened fire on the public without any provocation, during which Paul received a bullet injury.

The jawans also used batons on the public, during which a lady was injured.

Paul was referred to the GBP hospital of Agartala later.

Meanwhile, the BSF jawans claimed that they had recovered 20 kg of dry ganja from that area and some villagers had tried to restrict them from carrying out the search operation and also pelted stones on them.

Police officials rushed to the village soon after the incident to take charge of the situation.

The clash between BSF jawans and villagers has become a routine incident in Tripura.

BSF jawans had opened fire and killed Jasim Mia at Belonia on February 1.

CPI(M) MLA Badal Choudhury demanded Rs 10 lakh as compensation along with a government job for the next of kin of Mia.