Indo-Bangla border areas put on alert

AGARTALA, April 19: The 1286-km long Tripura-Cachar-Mizoram border with Bangladesh has been put on 'maximum alert' following the killing of 16 BSF jawans by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) at Boribari in Assam yesterday, a senior official said today, reports PTI. "All BSF outposts in Tripura, Mizoram and Cachar district of Assam along the Bangladesh border have been put on alert so that any attempt to attack our nationals or occupy our land by any foreign quarters can be thwarted", Deputy Inspector General S Basumatari said. The BSF's strength has been increased in Muhurichar outpost in South Tripura district and Lakhitilla in Cachar district of Assam following an exchange of fire between BSF and BDR in those places over the occupation of disputed land, he said. "We have taken all possible measures to defuse tension along the border areas and are keeping close vigil on the situation", the DIG said, adding there was tension in some border villages. He, however, did not name the villages.