Indian forces still on high alert at Bangladesh borders

NEW DELHI, Feb. 28 -- India Saturday still maintained a close watch on the border with Bangladesh even as the situation in the neighboring nation shaken by a mutiny was beginning to ease, local NDTV reported.

NDTV quoted Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also the country's foreign minister, as saying Border Security Force (BSF) is still on high alert along the border with Bangladesh.

Mukherjee said the mutiny was Bangladesh's internal matter.

Thousands of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) soldiers staged revolt on Wednesday morning at the BDR headquarters in capital Dhaka against their army officers over pay and other benefits.

The death toll of the rebel has risen to 81 with the recovery of 10 more bodies on Saturday morning, according to Bangladesh's media reports.

The revolt came to an end with the surrender of the mutineers Thursday evening.

BDR, whose main task is to protect the country's borders, is under Bangladeshi home minister, but its senior officers are all from the Army. The soldiers complained they have been ignored and repressed by their army officers for a long time.