In a press release, the High Commission referred to a UNB report of June 30 regarding the abduction of women by the BSF and said the report "is particularly distressing in its patent falsehood, bias and malicious intent."

Giving its version of the incident, the High Commission said on June 27 the BSF troops from border outpost (BOP) Charbhadra observed seven Bangladeshi women trespass into Indian territory near border pillar 158/1-S.

"However, when these women were almost a kilometre inside the Indian territory, they could no longer be given the benefit of doubt as having strayed unintentionally, and were, accordingly, apprehended by the BSF," the release said.

It said identities of these women as Bangladeshi nationals were confirmed upon questioning.

"It was discovered that two of these seven women had crossed illegally with the intention of smuggling, another two women wanted medical treatment and the remaining three were carrying about 20kgs of scrap to sell in a local market in India."

The release said all the seven Bangladeshi women were handed over by the BSF to Jalangi police station in Murshidabad district (West Bengal) on the same day for legal action.

On June 29, it said a letter from BDR Company Commander of BDR BOP Chilmari was received asking for a flag meeting and return of above Bangladeshi nationals. "The BSF agreed to hold a flag meeting on June 30 but no response to this offer was received from the BDR," the release said.

"It is, therefore, a blatant fabrication to assert as has been done by the UNB news item-that the BSF kidnapped seven Bangladeshi women."

"Also, at no stage did the BSF enter the Bangladeshi territory. In fact, all the seven Bangladeshi women were apprehended deep inside the Indian territory," the release added.