Tuesday, August 15 2006 10:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Taking a serious note of 'unprovoked' firing and shelling of some areas of Assam by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), India yesterday (Aug 14, 2006) lodged its protest by summoning Dhaka's envoy here.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also distanced itself from certain reported remarks made by BJP President Rajnath Singh, including that India should attack terror camps in Bangladesh and Pakistan, saying these 'do not represent government policy'.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Liaqat Ali Choudhury was summoned by Joint Secretary (Bangladesh) in the MEA Mohan Kumar here to express concern over unprovoked firing by BDR in Surma area of Assam, MEA spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters here.

Kumar handed over a Note Verbale (protest letter) to Choudhury. A similar letter was handed over to Bangladesh Foreign Ministry in Dhaka by Indian High Commission officials.

New Delhi was protesting against heavy firing and 'large-scale' mortar shelling by BDR on August 9-10.



Sarna said BDR fired 140-150 mortar shells of 60 mm and 82 mm calibre, killing two women.

Choudhury told Kumar that he would convey India's 'serious concerns' and suggest that the matter could be discussed in detail during the Home Secretary-level talks expected by this month-end.