Panic-stricken villagers flee Mankachar

GUWAHATI, April 19: Panicky villagers of Man-kachar subdivision in Dhubri district bordering Bangladesh continued to flee to safer places as a war-like situation has developed in the area following heavy exchange of fire between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) since yesterday. Official sources in Dhubri said that according to information available, the Bangladesh Armymen have also moved into the Bangladesh Rifles posts, while BSF reinforcements have been moved to the border posts. So far one person was killed and eleven others injured in the firing since yesterday. While the casualty on the other side is not yet known. Sources said that a few choppers were sighted across the border since yesterday, and it is believed that the choppers were flown in to evacuate the injured persons. Giving details of the events official sources said that the BDR firing started at the Kakripara border outpost at around 4.30 am yesterday from the Baraibari outpost of the Bangladesh Rifles. The BSF personnel retaliated strongly, and it is believed that the BDR post was hit as smoke was sighted in that direction. Sources said that in the later part of the day, the Sahapara BoP near the border trade point was targeted from the Islamari outpost of the BDR. According to information available the Bangladesh Army personnel moved into the company headquarters of the BDR located at Roumari from the Mymensingh base, and later the Bangla Armymen resorted to firing with MMG and heavy artillery. One Artillery shell landed near the Sahapara civil hospital in Mankachar town at 11 am yesterday, injuring seven civilians - Rahul Saha, Sarbani Saha, Purnima Saha, Dulal Chandra Ghosh, Dhiren Saha, Ayub Hussian and Zehirul Islam. Zehirul died in the Tura civil hospital later. Subsequently, two more artillery shells landed on the Indian territory. One shell landed at Dakergaon at 3.15 am injuring two persons - Monowara Begum and Masuda Khatun, while, another landed at Thakuranbari village at 5 pm injuring three persons - Zakir Hussain, Mumtaz Begum and Brishti Saha. This morning, one artillery shell landed in the Kamakhyabari village under Tura police station in Meghalaya. However, no one was hurt as the shell landed in a jungle area. Till today, the BSF has not resorted to heavy artillery fire. Sources further said that quite a few bullets landed in the heart of Mankachar town, causing panic in the area. Several outposts of the border police were also hit. However, no policeman was injured. Till now, only the BSF is fighting the battle and the Army has not yet been moved in to deal with the situation. Senior officers of the BSF are camping in the area. Though the reason for such attacks is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that the motive may be to grab the disputed area in Baraibari. Sources pointed out that Baraibari is a disputed area and even the border fencing erected there took a 'U' turn in the area.