Indian soldiers drub Bangladeshi counterparts

Dawki,Meghalaya, May 15 (UNI) While the Indian cricket team was avenging its World Cup drubbing in Dhaka, the men in khaki were doing their bit on the football field.

The Border Security Force (BSF) team yesterday routed their Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) counterparts 4-0 in a friendly football match at the Dawki international border in Meghalaya.

While there is palpable tension in the atmosphere when the BSF and BDR men take their armed positions at the border, it was the only emotion missing from the field yesterday.

The Indian team dominated the match throughout, grabbing a 2-0 lead at half time and consolidated their lead with two more goals in the second half to seal the victory.

The soldiers of both the countries played the game in true sportsmanship, without any foul play.

The excitement was visible among the spectators who had gathered for the match. Local residents, including school students and small children, cheered the BSF team, urging them to rout the BDR players.

Though the BSF outplayed the BDR on field, the supporters of the losing team were a far more excited lot compared to the Indian supporters.

A good number of people had gathered at an elevated point across the border to watch the match. Though visibility could not have been very good, the Bangladeshi supporters got so excited that at one point of time, they barged in on the field.

However, as the venue was on the Indian side, the border guards had to move forward and send back the crowd.

The crowd, respecting the true spirit of the game, immediately moved back when they realised that they were trespassing into the Indian territory and enjoyed the match from their former place.

BSF IG P K Mishra and BDR Sectoral Commander Abul Hussain were among the top security personnel present during the match.

The presence of the so-called 'pro-India' caretaker government in Dhaka had added special significance to this friendly exercise as it sent strong signals that Bangladesh were looking to consolidate its ties with India.

UNI