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(From Agence France Presse)
Indian and Bangladeshi border troops were holding talks on the deportation of Bangladeshis, as tension between the normally friendly countries ran high over charges of illegal immigration.
India last month announced a drive to expel Bangladeshis staying illegally in its territory. Bangladesh, in turn, has charged that India was breaching established rules by trying to force people across the border without due process.
Indian paramilitary troops announced Friday they had detained 213 Bangladeshis, all members of the mainly Muslim country's Hindu minority, who tried to sneak in at Coochbehar, 650 kilometers (403 miles) north of Calcutta.
They said another 40 Bangladeshis who had been staying in New Delhi were detained in Nadia district, 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Calcutta, and would also be booted out of India.
"Talks on deportation of Bangladeshis between the countries' border authorities failed on Friday," P.P. Gupta, deputy inspector general of India's Border Security Force, told AFP.
"We want to resolve the problem through peaceful dialogue," he said, adding that meetings were being held again Saturday.