Sunday, August 21 2005 17:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Indian and Bangladeshi border guards today (August 21, 2005) decided on a cease-fire after a flag meeting in the Adampur and Muchia areas of West Bengal's Malda district, putting a stop to the cross-firing over the past two days that left two persons injured and forced panicky villagers out of their homes.

A report from Malda quoted BSF DIG (South Bengal) who led the Indian side at the meeting, as saying that ''things are amicably resolved''.

The BDR side was led by its commander Rejanur Rahaman.

BSF DIG, PSO, S K Mitra told PTI here, ''It has been decided at the flag meeting that the BSF and BDR will not fire at one another.''

The meeting, which began around 9.00 a.m. at Hemua village under Muchia border outpost in Malda district lasted for about two hours.

To a question, Mitra said that situation in the area remained peaceful.

He said while anti-erosion work on the Indian side would continue, it would remain suspended for the time being on the Bangladesh side. A permanent solution would be worked out later by the Indo-Bangla Joint River Commission.

Giving details, a Siliguri report quoting Gour said it was agreed that the anti-erosion work on the Indian side of the Mahananda river would continue as it was beyond 150 yards from the zero point of the international border.

The exchange of bullets between the two forces had started on August 19 when the BDR opened fire at BSF protesting against the anti-erosion work on the river bank. The erosion had endangered a BSF border outpost in the area.

Panicky villagers who were shifted to ver places by the BSF following cross-firing were now returning to their homes, Malda police said.

One Indian villager was injured in unprovoked firing by BDR personnel from across the India-Bangladesh border at Raipur in Malda district yesterday.

The anti-erosion work on the Mahananda river had drawn the ire of the BDR.