Indian and Bangladeshi troops exchanged fire over a smuggling dispute in West Bengal's Malda district on Thursday.

The Border Security Force reported no casualty, but an unconfirmed report said two unidentified people had been killed in the firing.

West Bengal police Deputy Inspector General Narayan Ghosh told reporters that the firing was provoked by an incident of cattle smuggling, a regular menace along the porous India-Bangladesh border.

"The firing went on for sometime since the morning, but no casualty has been reported so far," Ghosh said. He said details of the reason for the brief skirmish were awaited.

"The fire has stopped now and there is tension along the border in Malda," Ghosh said. The BSF has strengthened vigil along the border.

The firing incident is expected to add to the tension already existing along the Bangladesh border following the stalemate over six alleged Bangladeshi nationals who have been stranded on the no-man's land for the eighth day on Thursday after being detected by Indian guards.

The BSF claims the six had entered India illegally though the Hili border in South Dinajpur district. They had reportedly visited Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan before returning to West Bengal to try and cross back into Bangladesh.

The six 'Bangladeshis' were stopped by the Bangladesh Rifles from re-entering their territory on Thursday last. Since then the group has had to spend their time on the no-man's land near border pillar number 284/50-S. BSF sources admitted that they had little idea about the fate of the six 'Bangladeshis'.