A BSF spokesman told reporters that the firing was sparked off by an incident of dacoity, which was thwarted by alert troops on the Murshidabad border. As one of the infiltrators was injured and apprehended by the BSF men, a mob of Bangladeshi villagers sneaked in to protest and retaliate while the jawans of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) provided them covering fire.

The exchange of fire between the two border forces continued throughout the night resulting in the death of two Bangladesh Rifle jawans, two BSF men, two Bangladesh villagers and one Indian.

Senior BSF officers have rushed to the border although the firing has ceased since this morning, the BSF spokesman said. He said so far the BSF request for a ``flag meeting'' with their Bangladesh counterparts to sort out the matter have not yielded anyresponse, he said.

The BSF had intercepted a two-member gang of dacoits trying to sneak in into the Indian side near the border post of Narsari at about 9.45 pm.

One of the infiltrators identified as Allamudin Mondal of village Pukara was injured in the firing by the BSF troops and he was later shifted to a hospital. Thereafter about 100 Bangladeshi villagers moved into the Indian side and indulged in loot and arson in protest.

The BSF spokesman said the incident had no ramifications and was only a local issue.