The flow of traffic and trade across the Indo-Nepal border in Champawat district is being affected in the wake of protracted unrest in the neighbouring Nepal over its new Constitution.
Untoward incidents started once Ram Bahadur Mehra, a Maoism-inclined leader of one of the students’ groups from Sudurpaschim University based in Kanchanpur district in Nepal, had given a call to the students on September 27 to destroy vehicles bearing Indian registration numbers found plying in Nepalese territory. Consequently, traffic movement across the Indo -Nepal border through Champawat district came to a near halt, affecting trade since September 28. Informing this, Champawat Superintendent of Police (SP) Dilip Singh Kunwar said on Friday that they have taken precautionary measures to rein in the situation.
“We have issued an advisory to the people of the district to refrain from crossing the border until situation in the Nepal becomes normal. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel are guarding the border round the clock and the local police are vigilant. The local police and Intelligence sleuths have been put on high alert,” he added.
Kunwar further said that several rounds of talks had been held between the Champawat administrative officers and their counterparts from Kanchanpur district in Nepal. “However, the situation is still tense. The border has been sealed and people are allowed to cross over to Nepal side on foot. Vehicles crossing the border are being stopped by Nepal police,” he said, adding that there is no ban on vehicles bearing Nepali registration numbers crossing into the Indian side of the border.
He further said things had not thawed despite the Nepalese authorities having had several rounds of talks with the students’ leaders with Maoist leanings who had issued the threat of destroying Indian vehicles once they crossed into Nepal.
The Champawat district administrative officers are in touch with the administrative officers based in Kanchanpur district (Nepal). “Some meetings have been held over the past few days,” he added.
To facilitate the people of the district, Tonga and Rickshaw are being allowed till pillar- 7 along the border (Indian side) where SSB personnel remain deployed. “People across the border are cooperating with the administration and there is no case of people from the Indian side being resisted entry in the other side,” SP said. Trade though affected has not fully stopped as the residents of Tanakpur and Banbasa located near Nepal border are reaching Mahendra Nagar, a big market located across the border in Nepal to purchase necessary items and to do other related works. In the same way, the Nepali citizens are getting into the Indian side to buy household items as they are cheaper here as compared to Nepal.