Guwahati: Two women were killed and three others, including a child, injured in heavy shelling by Bangladesh Rifles at Katigora sector of the India-Bangladesh border in southern Assam's Cachar district throughout Wednesday night.

Inspector General of Police, BSF Tripura, Cachar, Mizoram frontier, S.K. Dutta told reporters in Agartala that the BDR resorted to unprovoked firing at 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday at Harinagar and Kinnarkhal border outpost areas under Katigora police station. The BDR used heavy machine guns and universal machine guns followed by a barrage of firing from heavy mortars throughout the night. The BDR stopped firing on Thursday morning only after the Border Security Force retaliated.

Mr. Dutta said the BSF was fully prepared to meet any eventuality. Asked if Army help would be needed, he said there was no such necessity at present, and the BSF would be able to handle the situation.

The deceased women have been identified as Sabita Dey and Shanta Dey.

Mr. Dutta said the BSF had dashed off at least 10 letters of protest to the BDR. The Sylhet sector commander of the BDR had agreed to a flag meeting on August 13.

In June, the BSF and BDR exchanged heavy fire along the Katigora sector.

Assam Chief Secretary S. Kabilan told The Hindu that the State Government was in touch with the BSF authorities and instructed the district administration to evacuate the people to safety if necessary. Hundreds of people in the affected areas had already fled their houses in the wake of heavy shelling, sources said.

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