BSF member shot by own weapon at Tripura border

A Border Security Force (BSF) member was accidentally injured by his own service weapon while on duty at the Dharmanagar border in Tripura late Monday night.

The injured member has been identified as Bipin Kumar (35), a member of the 97th Battalion of BSF. He was posted at the Maheshpur area of Dharmanagar during the incident.

According to police, the firearm discharged unintentionally during duty hours, resulting in the injury. Bipin Kumar was rushed to Dharmanagar District Hospital around 12:30 am on Tuesday (23 December) in critical condition.

After initial treatment, his condition deteriorated, and he was transferred to the advanced G.B. Pant Hospital in Agartala in the morning for better medical care. He remains under treatment there.

Dharmanagar Sub-divisional Hospital Medical Officer Dr. Prasun Bhattacharjee told reporters that the member sustained two bullet wounds from the firearm. Though his condition was initially critical, he stabilised somewhat after primary treatment, doctors said.

Following the incident, security has been strengthened in the border area with additional BSF personnel deployed. A thorough investigation into the matter has begun.

However, no official statement has been issued yet by the local BSF office or the force's headquarters in Delhi regarding the incident. Authorities have described it as an accidental discharge.