While our politicians and media are busy trying to deflect criticism over the Bombay train blasts, our tiny neighbour, Bangladesh has simply pocketed land.

The Assam government has accused Bangladesh of forcibly occupying more than two square km of land by uprooting border pillars leading to an unabated flow of migrants into the state.

Assam Revenue Minister Bhumidhar Barman said the encroachment was observed in the western district of Dhubri and southern Karimganj.

‘A total of about 499.83 acres of Assam territory has been encroached and occupied by the neighbouring country after the boundary pillars were removed,’ the minister told the Assam assembly late Tuesday.

He said Bangladesh had encroached upon 299.04 acres of the Pallatal tea estate and 11.73 acres of the Pramodnagar tea estate in Karimganj district.

‘In Dhubri district, 189.06 acres under Mancachar revenue circle has been encroached,’ Barman said. ‘Even though the administrative power of these areas lies with the Assam government, they are being controlled by Bangladesh.’

Our spineless government headed by a puppet Prime Minister will, like before, roar, and then lapse into silence. Instead of teaching Bangladesh a lesson they’ll never forget, expect Mr.Singh to recite this:

We are a peace-loving nation,

A chant we have for 58 years made proud mention;

Prithee, don’t attack us,

We can fight but we lack guts.

Or like his illustrious predecessor, Nehru, take this issue to the UN. This is yet another example of a government which cannot protect its citizens. There’s yet another question to be asked: why have the attacks on the Indian state increased–both in frequency and intensity–since the UPA took office?

And now, expect the secular media to justify the land-grabbing as an act to avenge Gujarat.