Wednesday, August 24 2005 13:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Siliguri: Fresh tension gripped villages along Indo-Bangla international border in Malda district of West Bengal as Bangladesh undertook embankment repairing work within 150 yards of zero line yesterday (August 23, 2005), official sources said.

The Border Security Force (BSF) warned Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to stop the work as it was 'gross violation' of international border rules.

The District Magistrate of Malda already contacted his Bangladesh counterpart of Nababganj district and apprised him on the situation and the Indian stand on the issue.

Bangladesh took the move after two days of ceasefire between the two border security forces.

The ceasefire was announced in a flag meeting near Muchia border outpost of BSF where anti-erosion work on Indian side of the river Mahananda was justified as it was beyond 150 yards from the zero line.

It was also decided that a higher-level meeting between BSF and BDR would be held to find a permanent solution to the problem.

There was heavy exchange of fire between the two forces on 19th and 20th August 2005 injuring two Indian villagers along the Indian border.

The villagers of Indian border, who were shifted to safer places, returned home after the announcement of the ceasefire.

But the repair work on the Bangladesh side has caused panic. The villagers apprehend that this would aggravate the situation and might lead to fresh encounter between the two sides.