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BSF-Bangladesh Rifles firing continues for third day

Firing between the Bangladesh Rifles and the Border Security Force continued for the third day today over the disputed 144-acre Muhurichar land under Belonia-sub division in South Tripura.

Official sources said tension was running high in Belonia town and its adjoining areas even as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the criminal procedure code have been promulgated.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury and Information Minister Jitendra Chowdhury visited the area yesterday and held a series of meetings with senior BSF and civil officials over the prevailing situation.

Sarkar asked the officials to take all precautionary measures to prevent loss of life and property. Four people sustained bullet injuries in the BR firing. They were shifted to the government hospital.

BSF Inspector General for Tripura, Cachar and Mizoram frontier B C Goel said that additional forces, led by senior officers, had rushed to the spot, 110 kilometres from Agartala, to take counter measures.

The state government closed down all educational institutions and government offices in Belonia following the firing.

A flag meeting between the officials of the BSF and BR held at the Belonia checkpost on Sunday failed to yield any positive result.

BR jawans opened unprovoked firing on Indian farmers, who were working in their farms at Muhurichar at about 11.30 hours on Sunday. BSF jawans immediately retaliated.

Muhurichar has remained a disputed area since 1974 with both India and Bangladesh claiming the cultivable land as their own.

UNI

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