Kolkata, Dec 12 (IANS) A BSF officer was Friday attacked by cattle smugglers near the Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Nadia district, officials said.

The incident took place near the Maluapara border outpost, when inspector Chandervir Singh, who was leading a Border Security Force (BSF) patrol team, was attacked by a smuggler with a sickle.

“Chandervir Singh sustained serious injuries in his left hand after a smuggler, being challenged by the patrol team, attacked him with a sickle. The attacker along with other smugglers managed to flee towards the Bangladesh side taking advantage of darkness and dense fog,” a BSF spokesperson said.

Despite being injured, Chandervir Singh and his team managed to seize cattle valued at Rs.1 lakh, that were being smuggled to Bangladesh.

Attacks on BSF troopers have been on the rise, with as many as 74 personnel under the south Bengal frontier injured in attacks by cattle smugglers during the year.