The New Nation - Internet Edition

Agencies

At least 20 people were injured, 12 of them seriously, when Border Security Force (BSF) troopers and a violent mob clashed along Tripura's border with Bangladesh, officials yesterday said, reports IANS.

A police spokesperson said the trouble began late Tuesday at Kathalia in western Tripura, 60 km from here, over the opening of a gate along the border to allow Indian villagers to cross a barbed wire fencing.

"There are a number of houses and paddy fields of Indian villagers that are outside the barbed border fencing that separates the two countries," Tripura police spokesperson Nepal Das said.

There are a number of such gates along the border and BSF troopers open the gates to allow Indian villagers to cross over.

"Villagers became agitated after the delay in opening of the gate, leading to a clash between the paramilitary troopers and locals," Das added.

India has been erecting barbed wire fencing along the 4,095-km India-Bangladesh border that touches West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya to check crimes and infiltration besides trans-border movement of militants.