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Syed Zarir Hussain in Shillong
Tribal chiefs in the northeastern state of Meghalaya have urged the Centre to tighten security along the border with Bangladesh, alleging troop build-up and threats by the neighbouring country's soldiers.
"We have been threatened by the Bangladesh Rifles. People are preparing to flee the area fearing a repetition of the intrusion in our villages by the BDR in April," says Peter Rynjah, secretary of the Federation of Riwar Mihngi Local Dorbars, an influential tribal council in Meghalaya.
Community leaders say BDR soldiers have threatened the villagers of Pyrdiwah and Lyngkhat to vacate their homes immediately or face "dire consequences".
Pyrdiwah, 90 km east of Meghalaya's capital Shillong, was the border village that the BDR had occupied for five days in April after taking hostage 28 Border Security Force personnel.
The BDR left Pyrdiwah after looting and ransacking the village. Lyngkhat is 20 km from Pyrdiwah, separated from Bangladesh by a small stream.
The April intrusion sparked off a bloody skirmish between the BSF and BDR. Sixteen BSF soldiers had been killed in the incident.
Fearing fresh attacks by the BDR, the tribal council has sent a letter to Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani seeking the government's intervention to defuse the crisis.
Indo-Asian News Service
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