Wednesday, July 26 2006 12:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: The Assam government has accused Bangladesh of forcibly occupying more than two square km of land by uprooting border pillars leading to an unabated flow of migrants into the state.

Assam Revenue Minister Bhumidhar Barman said the encroachment was observed in the western district of Dhubri and southern Karimganj.

"A total of about 499.83 acres of Assam territory has been encroached and occupied by the neighbouring country after the boundary pillars were removed," the minister told the Assam assembly late Tuesday.

He said Bangladesh had encroached upon 299.04 acres of the Pallatal tea estate and 11.73 acres of the Pramodnagar tea estate in Karimganj district.

"In Dhubri district, 189.06 acres under Mancachar revenue circle has been encroached," Barman said. "Even though the administrative power of these areas lies with the Assam government, they are being controlled by Bangladesh."

The Assam government has alerted New Delhi about the recent encroachments by Bangladesh. "We have asked the central government to resolve the issue with Dhaka. The matter was also discussed at the Indo-Bangla Joint Border Commission meeting held recently," the minister said.

The minister was replying to a question by an independent legislator.

Assam shares a 272-km long border with Bangladesh of which about 70 percent has been fenced with barbed wires. The remaining stretch of the border is separated by concrete pillars.