India on alert after Bangladeshi troop build-up

India on alert after Bangladeshi troop build-up

GUWAHATI, India (Agencies): Indian frontier guards were on
high alert on Tuesday, following what senior officers described
as a major overnight build-up of Bangladeshi troops along the
border.

"There has been a massive build-up of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR)
soldiers and heavy movement of regular Bangladesh Army along the
borders with Assam, Tripura and Mizoram states, and they were
seen patrolling at night," said Arvind Ranjan, inspector general
of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).

"The situation is tense and worrying," Ranjan told AFP by
telephone from the Tripura state capital Agartala. Ranjan is the
chief of BSF operations in Tripura, Mizoram and part of the Assam
sector.

Earlier on Tuesday, Indian and Bangladesh border commanders
met to reduce tension after accusations of a fresh buildup of
troops and weapons following last week's fighting that left 19
soldiers dead.

Bangladesh said it was recruiting more border forces, but
denied any buildup on the frontier.

"The talks between officials of the two sides were held in an
amicable manner. The tension has been diffused," said an official
of the Indian BSF on condition of anonymity.

The Indians asked the Bangladeshis to reduce the number of
soldiers in nighttime patrols and notify the nearest Indian
border post of nighttime activity. The Bangladesh commanders
"verbally agreed to create a conducive atmosphere along the
border," said the Indian official.

Skirmishes along the normally peaceful border last week
claimed the lives of 19 frontier guards on both sides, including
BSF personnel.

India blamed the clashes on "criminal adventurism" by the BDR,
saying its units had operated independently of the Bangladeshi
government.

"We have sounded a high alert and have placed senior officers
all along the sensitive border posts to prevent any escalation
and flare-up," Ranjan said, adding that Bangladeshi troops had
intruded into the Cachar sector of Assam on Sunday night but been
pushed back.

Indian intelligence officials said regular Bangladeshi army
soldiers drawn from a mechanized infantry division were spotted
taking positions along border posts in Meghalaya and Tripura.

"We gave a strong note to the BDR commanders and wanted an
assurance that they stop carrying out provocative night
patrolling," said BSF deputy inspector general S. Basumatary.

"The BDR commanders verbally assured us they would not carry
out night patrols without prior intimation, and would stop the
recent practice of having the patrol comprising of 15 to 20 men
rather than the usual practice of five to 10 soldiers," he added.