Security forces to maintain peace along Indo-Bangla border

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 25: India-Bangladesh border security forces of both countries have been asked to maintain calm and peace along the border, a senior BSF official said today. “The issue of gun battle between the Border Security Forces (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) at Nimtita in Murshidabad on 18 July and at Sultanpur in Malda districts on 23 July was discussed at the coordination meeting between the BSF and BDR in Kolkata”, said Mr. P S Tomar, the DIG, BSF, Malda sector. Two BDR personnel and one BSF personnel were killed and one civilian injured in the gun battle in two separate areas. “It was discussed that security forces of both the countries would be asked to maintain calm and peace along the border”, Mr. P S Tomar said. Mr. Tomar was present at the four day coordination meeting in Kolkata. Both areas along the border after gun battle are under control and there was no unrest between BSF and BDR, they claimed. The BSF officials today denied that villagers residing along the border line were evacuated from the border line to Akandaberia High Schools today for safety and prevailing tension along the border between two countries. The CPI (M) local MLA Mr. Biswanath Ghosh informed the local reporters that villagers were fearful of cross firing after hearing sounds of firing from both sides. “Farmers are not in position to go to their field for work after the incident. They have been evacuated from the border line. They took shelter in Akandabaria High Schools temporarily”, Mr. Ghosh told reporters. Senior BSF officials denied such an incident and said: “Such ‘provocative’ information from political leaders would create problems to maintain peace along the border”. (END)