SHILLONG, June 16 � India today asked Bangladesh to maintain status-quo in �areas of adverse possession� till the Joint Working Group (JWG) from both nations meet next month and try work out a solution on bilateral boundary dispute.
The matter was conveyed at the highest level after Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) opened fire on Indian villagers cultivating their land in several areas in Jaintia Hills sector of Meghalaya along the Indo-Bangla border, yesterday.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who is in New Delhi, has taken up the matter with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. Subsequently, India has asked its eastern neighbour to maintain status- quo till the JWG meets next month.
The Centre must take steps, Sangma said, to provide security to the people residing along the Indo-Bangla border.
Tuesday, BDR opened fire on Indian villagers in Muktapur, Jaliakhola, Naljuri, Amdoh, Amjalong, Hawai Tilla along the Indo-Bangla border in Jaintia Hills district.
BSF (Assam-Meghalaya) Frontier chief, RC Saxena said the situation in the Jaintia Hills sector was tense and so the BSF has heightened its security.
About 551.80 acres of Bangladesh land is under adverse possession of India.
India claims 226.81 acres of its territory is under adverse possession of Bangladesh. There are 11 such areas of dispute in the Meghalaya sector.
