BSF warns Bangladesh Rifles against violation of ceasefire agreement
Shillong: BSF today warned Bangladesh Rifles that it would not observe "restraint" shown earlier in the event of "misadventure" from their side."We have made it clear that we will not observe the same restraint as we maintained during the last firing by BDR (along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya). Unilateral restraint is not possible," BSF (Assam and Meghalaya) chief RC Saxena, who met a BDR delegation led by Brig Gen Md Obaidul Haque at Dawki in Meghalaya, said.
The high-level meeting was held after the BDR on June 15 fired over 3,000 rounds at India in at least five places along the international border in Meghalaya, injuring a school teacher. Indian villagers had gone for cultivation on land held in 'adverse position' by India near Noljuri when the BDR fired at them. "The BSF had not fired a single shot on June 15. They (BDR) have been repeatedly been violating the status quo as well as the agreements reached between the two forces. But we will not tolerate this anymore," Saxena said referring to the last BSF-BDR DG level meeting where it was agreed that both the forces would not resort to firing along the border.
The BDR, during the meeting, alleged three Bangladeshis were injured when BSF opened fire on the same day, a charge rubbished by BSF.On BDR's reaction to BSF concerns, Saxena said, "The BDR delegation said they need to speak to their higher ups. They said they would come back to us in a few days."
The BSF said Indian villagers who cultivated land held in adverse possession by India would be provided security.The BSF also said it would ask the Union home ministry to take up the issue with Bangladesh at a higher level.
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