Bangladesh Army seen on Indo-Bangla border: BSF

Shillong, Feb 26 (PTI) Bangladesh Army troopers were
Thursday spotted at a few places along the Indo-Bangla border
as there are reports of mutiny in the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR)
spreading outside Dhaka, a top BSF official said Thursday.

Bangladesh Army personnel have been seen in areas like
Netrakona, Mymensingh and some other places bordering India's
north-eastern states of Meghalaya and Assam, the official, who
has been taking stock of the situation on the borders, told
PTI.

The BSF has observed that BDR personnel have apparently
pulled out of their regular patrol and surveillance activity
following the rebellion in the forces' headquarters in Dhaka,
which is feared to have left more than 50 officers dead and
was spreading to other areas.

"BDR personnel have not been spotted along the borders.
Our personnel have not observed the routine patrolling parties
of BDR nor the personnel since noon yesterday," the official
said.

The official indicated that BDR personnel might have
been confined to their camps.

Fearing repercussion along the international border, BSF
has asked its troops not to get provoked by any situation
arising out of the clash, even as maximum alert was sounded
along the Indo-Bangla border in North East.

"We have asked our men to keep cool and not get provoked
in the event of any situation arising out of the rebellion
along the border areas," BSF IG (Assam and Meghalaya Frontier)
Prithivi Raj had told PTI Wednesday.

BSF has sounded a maximum alert in the border areas
enhancing vigil and patrolling amid apprehensions that the BDR
men may try to sneak into India to escape prosecution back
home.

The commanders of BSF battalions have already moved to
the borders and are communicating with the frontier
headquarters regularly on the situation.

BSF DG M L Kumawat is taking stock of the situation from
New Delhi through video conferencing with all IGs of the
Eastern sector.

BSF has ruled out deployment of additional forces as
of now. PTI RTJ