Kolkata, April 29 (IANS): A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was shot dead by cattle smugglers near the Bangladesh border in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, an official said on Wednesday.

The incident happened under the Dhulia border outpost on Tuesday when a gang of smugglers, taking the cattle to Bangladesh, fired on a BSF patrol party.

"Constable Nitin Kumar Pandey was shot in the abdomen by cattle smugglers. Despite the bullet wound, he fought valiantly with his attackers and also injured one of the miscreants suspected to be a Bangladeshi national," Deputy Commandant Ajay Kumar said.

Pandey was rushed to R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in the city, where he succumbed to his injuries late on Tuesday night.

"Besides lodging a strong protest with the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) we have ordered a high level probe into the incident," added Kumar.

Earlier in January another BSF trooper Rashikul Mondal was killed by Bangladeshi cattle smugglers near Khalsi border outpost in the district.

More than 20 troopers have been injured this year in attacks by cattle smugglers across the south Bengal frontier.