BSF has suspended four of its officials for alleged procedural lapses in connection with the killing of two suspected Bangladeshi cattle smugglers along the border in West Bengal earlier this week.
The officials removed from active duty include an Assistant Sub-inspector and three Non-Commissioned Officers.
According to sources, two Bangladeshis were killed in firing during the intervening night of June 11-12 when they were allegedly trying to smuggle in cattle from across the border in South Bengal frontier of the force.
A Border Security Force (BSF) patrol, including these personnel, tried to stop them but were beaten up with lathis, following which the troops opened fire killing two Bangladeshi nationals and injuring another.
However, the four officials were found to have not reported the incident correctly to their superiors, after which they were placed under suspension for "procedural lapses".
BSF officials, however, said the encounter and firing was genuine and carried out by following all proper procedures but the act of not providing correct details and sequence of the incident proved costly for these men for which an inquiry is underway.
A court of inquiry has also been ordered against the four officials.
The BSF Act has specific clauses for those who do not carry out their duties properly and hence they have been booked under these charges and not on the clauses of fake encounter, they said.
The suspended officials were also badly injured in the incident and are under medical care now, sources said.
