Indian trooper shot at from across Nepal border
By IANSFriday, February 18, 2011
LUCKNOW - A trooper of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was hit by a bullet fired from the Nepal side of the India-Nepal border at Panchpakri, about 175 km from here, Friday.
Described as “unprecedented”, the incident has created much commotion among the SSB ranks as the organisation is entrusted with the management of the entire 450-km long border stretching along Uttar Pradesh.
The SSB is one of India’s paramilitary forces currently under the union home ministry.
Identified as Bhika Ram, the 35-year-old trooper belonged to the SSB 7th Battalion.
According to SSB Deputy Commandant Dev Anand, “It was a shot fired from a 12 bore gun that hit the jawan on his arm. We have admitted him to the local hospital in Bahraich.”
He said the trooper was “out of danger.”
While still trying to figure out the source of the firing, the SSB official said, “Since it was a 12 bore gunshot, it could have been fired by some poachers who were known to be active on that side of the border.”
The SSB has lodged a complaint with the Motipur police station against “unidentified persons across the border.”
Meanwhile, on being contacted, Bikha Ram said: “I was on my duty at the border outpost when I noticed some movement of armed persons on the Nepal side. Seeing me, they opened fire and disappeared in the forest.”
