n a shocking claim amid the strained ties between two neigbours, Bangladesh media reports claimed that the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has taken control of a 5-km stretch of land belonging to IndiaConsequently, the Border Security Force (BSF) of India has responded by saying that the reports that appeared in a section of the Bangladeshi press lacked “truth and merit”. Calling the reports as ‘baseless and irresponsible’, the BSF South Bengal Frontier also refuted claims that BGB personnel had started 24-hour patrolling the area in question using motorised boats and ATVs since December 19. Here are all the details regarding the Bangladesh media claims and how BSF has responded. “The area in question is on the Indian side, in Ranghat village of Bagda block, North 24 Parganas district. The International Boundary (IB) runs along the Kodaliya River, which is well-demarcated by reference pillars on both sides. The status of the IB and the duty pattern of the BSF have remained unchanged for decades,” the statement said. BGB personnel patrolling in India?As mentioned earlier, the Border Security Force also refuted claims that BGB personnel had started 24-hour patrolling the area using motorised boats and ATVs since December 19. “These reports are nothing but concocted stories. The BSF and BGB continue to perform their duties on their respective sides of the river, which serves as the IB,” he said. The BSF said the area is unfenced and prone to smuggling and infiltration by Bangladeshi nationals. Strict measures have been taken to curb such activities, bringing infiltration attempts in the region down to negligible levels, it said. Not an inch of Indian land has been…”Not an inch of Indian land has been, or will be, taken over by the counterpart. Both the BSF and BGB are peacefully dominating their respective areas in accordance with the ‘India-Bangladesh Border Guidelines, 1975’, ensuring the integrity of the IB is maintained,” it said. The reports had attributed the the claims to the newly-appointed commanding officer of the 58 BGB Lt Col Rafique Islam. “Such false and fabricated claims will only erode the goodwill between the two border-guarding forces,” the BSF said. (With inputs from agencies)