The paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) has killed three Bangladeshi cattle smugglers near the India-Bangladesh border in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
The smugglers, a gang of eight to 10, were trafficking cattle into Bangladesh when the BSF personnel opened fire at them.
Of the three killed, two died on the spot, while the other smugglers managed to escape into Bangladesh with the body of the third accomplice.
A BSF soldier was injured in the incident.
"I heard six to seven gun shots as my house is near the border. According to what I have heard two smugglers died here on the border while the rest of the gang ran into Bangladesh," said a local resident, Zaheer Mandal.
Later in the day, Indian and Bangladeshi officials held a meeting to discuss the issue of cattle trafficking and also handed over the two bodies to Bangladeshi officials.