The red flag planted by the BDR on Friday. A Telegraph picture

Shillong, Aug. 8: The BSF prevented a possible flare-up along the Indo-Bangladesh border last night after the Bangladesh Rifles planted a “red flag” — considered a sign of aggression — at Nongkhen, 5km from Pyrdiwah.

The BDR had planted the flag at Nongkhen, claimed by Bangladesh to be in adverse possession of India, yesterday afternoon after driving away farmers tilling their lands.

The BSF removed it late last night and held a meeting with the BDR to defuse tension. The farmers resumed cultivation today, BSF spokesperson Ravi Gandhi said.

He said “India’s concerns” over the BDR’s action were passed on to the BDR authorities in Sylhet “through appropriate channels”.

A villager from Nongkhen said over phone that some BDR soldiers arrived in the area yesterday morning when a farmer, D. Pohsnem, was ploughing his paddy field. They drove him and other villagers away, saying the land belonged to Bangladesh.

Soon after, the BSF and the BDR held an informal meeting to sort out the matter but the discussion remained inconclusive.

Later in the evening, the BDR planted the flag claiming that the land belonged to them, the villager added.

BSF officials in Shillong termed the BDR’s action as an act of arrogance.

“We moved in with adequate force and removed the flag. Now the farmers are ploughing the land freely. We have informed the higher authorities of the BDR’s stand and hope that better sense will prevail on their part,” Gandhi said.

According to him, the new company commander of BDR, who has taken charge at the Sylhet border, took the aggressive stand.

“The decision to claim any area of adverse possession can be taken only after discussions at political level by both India and Bangladesh and this cannot be decided by the BSF and the BDR,” Gandhi said.

Nongkhen was in the news recently after a Bangladesh survey team and civilians intruded into the area claiming that it belonged to them. Two flag meetings were held at Dawki on June 27 to resolve the matter.

Today’s aggression is a reminder of the April 15, 2001, incident when the BDR captured the Pyrdiwah outpost. The BSF personnel posted at Mankachar border outpost in Assam retaliated and took possession of Boraibari outpost manned by the BDR. Sixteen BSF personnel were killed in the attack.