Indian and Bangladeshi guards traded gunfire along the border in the northeastern state of Tripura after two Bangladeshi nationals were killed by Indian troopers when they were attempting to cross the fence, an official said Saturday.
An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) official said two Bangladeshi intruders were killed late Friday in separate incidents along West Tripura and Dhallai districts.
'Some Bangladeshi nationals were trying to cross over to our side and even challenged BSF soldiers with crude weapons. The troopers opened fired killing two persons, while others in the group fled,' a BSF official said.
He said soon after the failed attempt to cross over and the counter-attack by the BSF on the intruders, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) soldiers opened gunfire on Indian troopers near Khowai and Gandachara areas.
'Our troops retaliated and firing continued for about 30 minutes. There were no more casualties,' the BSF official said.
Senior BSF and BDR officials Saturday held a flag meeting and handed over the bodies to the BDR.