Traffic resumes at Petrapol corridoor

Bongaon, Mar 17 (UNI) Petrapol corridoor on the international border with Bangladesh near here in North 24 Parganas reopened this morning with the district police taking charge of the gate from the Border Security Force as the latter withdrew from duty, official sources said.

The BSF closed the border gate on the international corridoor here since yesterday morning, suspending all activities as the Immigration Officer at the border refused to oblige them by deputing their men at the gate to check the travel documents of the people crossing the border.

The BSF action stalled not only the movement of people crossing the border on foot but also international trade and movement of all vehicular traffic. Buses plying between Dhaka-Kolkata remained stranded at Benapol since yesterday. Traffic resumed this morning.

As the BSF and the Immigration department failed to reach a consensus after a prolonged meeting at the district headquarters, the district magistrate asked the agencies concerned to maintain status quo of the working process till a consensus was achieved.

UNI XC PL SS AK KN1545