Tension has erupted in Sabroom in South Tripura district after Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) personnel restricted an Indian construction company from constructing a wire fencing along the Indo-Bangla international border.
Sabroom situated in the far south of Tripura shares an international border with Bangladesh.
However, several areas along the Indo-Bangla international border do not have a fence.
A few workers from a construction company had gone to Aailmara area of Sabroom on Wednesday to construct a wire fence there.
However, BGB personnel deputed along the border restricted them from carrying out their work.
The sub-divisional magistrate imposed section 144 in the area on Wednesday noon to quell the situation.
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Shop and local markets in the area also remained closed as people feared that the BGB may open fire on the Indian side.
According to locals, BGB personnel had earlier also opened fire to stop the construction of a fence in the area.
“The four km stretch from Aailmara to Sabroom Market along the international border is still unfenced,” said a local who did not wish to be named.
“Taking advantage of this, people from Bangladesh illegally cross over to India. Cross-border smuggling activities are also increasing due to this,” he said.
The border forces of India and Bangladesh also held a meeting at Maitri Setu, but failed to resolve the problem.
Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) sought extra personnel to be deployed along the international border in Sabroom to prevent any untoward incident.
The Bangladesh Border Force had also objected to the construction of a barbed wire fence in another place along the Indo-Bangka international border in North Tripura.