INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER

Alert BSF jawans on duty at Indo-Bangladesh border in Cooch Behar district.

Border situation normal in Cooch Behar

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 26: Mutiny in the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) prompted the district administration of Cooch Behar to ask the Border Security Force (BSF) to steep up its vigilance along the 523-km long Indo-Bangladesh border in this district.

Sources in the Cooch Behar Sector Headquarters of the BSF said patrolling along the border has been geared up though the situation was normal in this side of the border. As there are adequate personnel under Cooch Behar Sector Headquarters no additional force was brought from outside, the sources said.

The International Check Post (ICP) situated at Changrabandha in Mekhliganj sub-division turned defunct from this morning though officially it was not declared closed. The BDR reportedly left their position and so movement of vehicles and crossing of border by people turned difficult.

District magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr RK Sinha said people and vehicles have crossed the ICP at Changrabandha even yesterday but the movement has been stopped today. Officially it was not declared closed, he said. No vehicle approached the ICP from Bangladesh side today and there is no stranded vehicle in this side too, he added.

Meanwhile, villagers at Kuchlibari in Mekhliganj heard noise of firing coming from other side of the border today. The DM too said he learnt that firing was going on today in Lalmonirhat area in Bangladesh. Confirming this BSF sources added that infighting in BDR was going on but that did not affect the border situation.

The district magistrate said instructions were issued to officials to alert people residing near the border to keep a safe distance from the border.