Kolkata: Two Bangladeshis were killed when Indian border guards opened fire on a group of people trying to cross into the Eastern state of West Bengal by ferries early on October 9, officials said.

Rudrapal Singh, a senior officer with the Border Security Force (BSF), said a group of about 25 people, all believed to be Bangladeshi nationals, tried to cross over the border using three ferries in a narrow river dividing India and Bangladesh early on October 9 morning.

When Indian border guards challenged the ferries, the people who were on board fired shots to cover their escape, he said

After a chase of about 20 minutes, the Indian's seized one of the ferries, Singh said, adding that two Bangladeshis were found dead after the gun-battle.

The incident took place at Natna village in the Northern district of Nadia, about 200 km from Kolkata at about 4:20 am (IST, 23:50 GMT), Singh said.

West Bengal police inspector general Chayan Mukherjee said the state's border with Bangladesh was put on high alert to check infiltration ahead of the 'Durga pooja', the biggest four-day religious festival in Eastern India.

"Police in the border districts were in touch with the Indian border guards to stop any attempt at infiltration by the Bangladeshs (Hindu) religious minority during 'Durga pooja' to meet their relatives this side of the border," Mukherjee said.

"A big police contingent was posted in the eight border districts of the state to maintain law and order during the festival." West Bengal shares about 1,700 kilometres of land and riverine border with neighbouring Bangladesh.