Fencing work triggers altercation at Indo-Ban border in Malda

Tension flared in the Sukdevpur area of Malda district, located on the India-Bangladesh border, on Monday afternoon, after the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) stopped road construction work being carried out by the central government. The work, which involved placing barbed wire for fencing along the border with the assistance of the Border Security Force (BSF), was halted by the BGB under claims that the area where the work was taking place was inside Bangladesh.

The incident led to significant unrest in the area, with both Indian and Bangladeshi residents gathering on either side of the border. A photo of the altercation went viral on social media, showing the tension that had gripped the region. As word spread, locals from Kaliachak Number Three Block, a nearby area, rushed to the site of the dispute.

Government officials have clarified that the fencing work was being done in a designated open space along the border, as per the instructions of the Indian government. The BGB, however, insisted that the section where the fencing was being constructed fell within Bangladesh's territorial limits. This disagreement triggered further discussions between Indian and Bangladeshi border officials.

In response to these claims, the Indian administration held a fresh round of talks with the BGB. After the dialogue, it was conveyed to the BGB that the land in question belonged to India. Following the resolution of the issue, the fencing work resumed in the afternoon.