Siliguri, Jan. 6: Tension gripped Chotto Siavitta village near Bagdogra after some 25 Bangladeshi cattle-rustlers killed one villager and left with 12 cattle.

No arrests have been made yet.

According to police sources, some 25 cattle-rustlers entered the village at midnight and lifted 12 cattle-heads from four houses of the village. Sixteen-year-old Deb Narayan Singha, who came out of his house on hearing the noise made by the villagers, was attacked on the head with a bhujali and succumbed to wounds as he was being taken to the hospital.

“One cow was found at Tawajote near the Indo-Bangla border, which confirms our doubt that the criminals left for Bangladesh with the cattle from the Laldas border area,” said C.S. Lepcha, deputy superintendent of police, Siliguri.

“Though it is certain that they were from Bangladesh, local involvement cannot be ruled out. It is quite likely that the Bangladeshi intruders must have entered India in small groups of two or three and sought shelter in the house of some local person, where they assembled. Residents of the same or other villagers must have informed them which house has how many cattle,” she said.

Fearing more such incidents, villagers, along with the police, have decided to patrol the area during the night.

Anupam Roy, who lost all his seven cows, said: “All my seven cows were tied at the cattle-shed. I was about 12.30 am when I heard a noise outside. At first I could not understand what was happening. But when I saw them take my cattle away from the shed, I realised what was going on. But I could not go out and save them as the thieves, who were in large numbers, were also armed. When the thieves left the village, we came out to find Deb lying in a pool of blood. We informed the police, who reached the spot at 1.20 am.”

Cattle-lifting is a regular phenomenon in the border areas. “Here too there used to be stray cases earlier. But it is for the first time that such a large group of thieves entered the village at the same time to lift cattle,” a police official said.

Vimal Mohan, deputy inspector-general, Border Security Force, said: “It is very difficult for the BSF to tackle the intruders. They come heavily armed and many times they have attacked the BSF jawans on duty. The work of fencing the Indo-Bangla border is going on in full swing. We have been able to control the menace in some areas where the fencing has been completed. Once the entire border line is fenced, Bangladeshi cattle-lifters will no longer be able to enter the area.”

Anil Saha, sabhadhipati, Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, said: “All help to the victims will be extended. The police and the BSF must step up vigil in order to curb the menace.”

Another villager Ramlal Singha lost two cows and Bhawesh Barman lost three. From Khokan Chandra Roy’s house, the thieves left with a television set, Rs 4,000 cash and a gold ring.