2. India-Bangladesh Border Skirmish
Sixteen Indian troops and two Bangladeshi soldier were killed near their shared border along India's border district of Kurigram. Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) border guard head Major General Fazlul Rahman said about 300 Indian Border Security Forces "attacked suddenly and also used mortars... but our troops retaliated.
"16 BSF jawans killed in skirmish with Bangla troops"
"16 BSF personnel killed by Bangladeshi troops"
The Deccan Herald reported that this followed a weekend incident in which 20 Indian troops were taken hostage when Bangladesh seized a frontier outpost in the village of Pyrdiwah from India. Bangladesh also claims the village as within its territory, and had moved hundreds of hundreds of civilians into the village. 3,000 Indian civilians reportedly fled the region.
"16 BSF men killed as Bangla troops fire on Indian positions"
"India, Bangladesh regret bloodshed"
"Civilians flee Assam border district"
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Raminder Jassal reported that both India and Bangladesh expressed regret over the incident and promised to exercise restraint in the future.
"India, Bangladesh regret bloodshed"
Fresh clashes erupted along the India-Bangladesh border, just hours after both side voiced regret for the recent killings, though the Times of India reported that by midnight of April 20th firing had again fallen silent. The article also revised upwards the number of Indian civilians who fled the region to 6,000, and stated that Indian government officials were attempting to convince villagers to return to their homes.
"Fresh clashes erupt on India-Bangladesh border"
"Guns fall silent on Bangla border"
A senior Border Security Force officer reported that India had accepted the return of the bodies of Indian soldiers being returned by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). He said the bodies were "highly mutilated and beyond recognition."
"India accepts mutilated bodies of 15 BSF troops"