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G Vinayak in Guwahati
Fresh tension is brewing along two different sectors of the Indo-Bangladesh border following the killing of at least four Bangladeshi intruders by the Border Security Force, BSF sources said.
One Bangladeshi cattle lifter was killed by BSF jawans at Kalaichar in Meghalaya's Garo district on Sunday.
According to the sources, a gang of Bangladeshi cattle lifters was intercepted by the BSF patrol. On being challenged, the intruders attacked the patrol party. One intruder was killed in the return fire. The rest of the cattle lifters fled, leaving behind the stolen cattle.
Another Bangladeshi intruder was killed on Sunday in the Mancachar sector of the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Two more intruders were killed in the same sector last Wednesday. This sector was the scene of a major skirmish between India's BSF and the Bangladesh Rifles in mid-April when 16 BSF jawans were killed by the BDR.
Apprehending a repeat of the Pyrdiwah conflict, BSF Inspector-General V K Gaur last week rushed to the Mancachar to assess the situation in the wake of the killing of the two Bangladeshi intruders.
A senior BSF official, however, allayed apprehension that the incident may lead to a fresh Indo-Bangladesh conflict.
"Some Bangladeshis tried to sneak into India through Pyrdiwah as well, but they were chased away. The media blew this incident out of proportion. The situation is normal," he said.
According to intelligence reports, a group of Bangladeshis swam across the Umngot river close to Pyrdiwah and pelted stones at the BSF jawans on duty. They retreated when the BSF men opened fire.
The infiltrators were allegedly backed by BDR personnel.
Fearing another border conflict, villagers fled Pyrdiwah and took shelter in the hills. However, officials denied that the incident sparked an exodus.
The West Garo Hills administration, too, downplayed the skirmishes. "Such incidents are a regular feature along the Indo-Bangladesh border," superintendent of police B R Rana said.
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