Thursday, May 5 2005 08:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Centre is understood to have decided to suspend fencing within 150 yards of the International Border (IB) with Bangladesh and would try to arrive at a solution through diplomatic channels even as Bangladeshi troops have been sighted mobilising at certain places.

The erection of fence, which started in February this year, was discussed at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil along with representatives from the Prime Ministers Office, External Affairs Ministry and security agencies yesterday (May 4, 2005).

Sources said India would not like to escalate tension with any neighbour and would use diplomatic channels to find a solution to the problem.

"Everything will be okay and there is no need to be worried," a smiling Patil told reporters while evading the main question as to whether the fencing work had been suspended.

The sources said the decision was taken after Patil articulated that New Delhi should not allow fencing in the controversial 212 patches of the 4,097-km of the Indo-Bangla border to act as an irritant in relations between the two countries.

Even in yesterday's meeting, he is understood to have asked for a "very cautious" approach.

During the meeting, Patil and other senior officials were briefed about the border situation and the movement of troops, men and material from across the border by Bangladesh.

The Border Security Force (BSF) and some other officials had advocated a harder stand but were told that New Delhi's response would have to be measured and mature, sources said.

The issue might also be taken to the Cabinet Committee on Security when it meets next, they said.

Dhaka has opposed fencing within 150 yards of the Indo-Bangla border, citing the guidelines of 1975 agreed to by the BSF and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) that prohibits either country from erecting "defensive structures" within 150 yards.

India has maintained that fencing the Indo-Bangla border would be an exercise in futility if it leaves gaps in areas where people on the Indian side lived too close to the border.

More than 62,000 people in 254 villages would be fenced out and at the mercy of the BDR if Delhi were to strictly adhere to the 150-yard guideline, according to a list prepared by the Home Ministry. If it were to leave the areas unfenced, there would be 212 patches along the border without a fence.

There have since been more than 10 instances of firing by the BDR to oppose fencing within 150 yards, prompting a rethink in the Home Ministry.

Besides Patil, others present at the meeting were National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan, Union Home Secretary V K Duggal, BSF Chief R S Mooshahary, Special Secretary (Internal Security) Anil Chowdhry, Intelligence Bureau Chief E S L Narisimhan and representatives from External Affairs and Home Ministry.