National
Over 50 cargo trucks enter via Birgunj-Raxual border
Cargo trucks have entered Nepal through the Birgunj – Raxual border entry point on Friday, 135 days after Sayukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) supporters began their sit-in protests at the border.Cargo trucks started entering Nepal through the Birgunj–Raxual border entry point on Friday after the locals and businessmen removed the tents set up by agitating cadres of Sayukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM).
The border apparently resumed 135 days after SLMM supporters began their sit-in protests at the border on September 24 in protest against the newly adopted constitution. Over four dozen freight containers entered Nepal as of 7 in the evening, said Spokesperson at Birgunj Customs Office, Sushil Sharma. The border point resumed at 1 in the afternoon.
A huge convoy of freight containers entered Nepal after local entrepreneurs from Nepal and India set ablaze the tents set by Morcha protesters at the no-man’s land in Miteri Bridge, Birgunj.
Though thousands of trucks were left in lurch when the blockade began in September, currently there are only about 200 Nepal-bound trucks at Raxaul as most of the stranded trucks were already re-routed through other border crossings of Bhairahawa and Biratnagar.
Sharma said all the cargo trucks could not entered at once because many of the importers are unaware about the resumption of border.
The development comes in the wake of growing demand for ending the border blockade and remarks by Morcha leaders that the particular border should be reopened.
The Morcha protesters have abandoned the protest site after the incident.
There is a strong presence of Police personnel and locals at the bridge. Meanwhile, small vehicles and rickshaws are moving across the border.
Meanwhile, locals have chased away Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party General Secretary Jitendra Sonal who reached the scene to enforce border obstruction saying that the protesting faction had not officially declared ending the border obstruction.
Likewise, Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal district chairman Yadav also reached the border point in an attempt to obstruct it again.
The locals have been arguing that the agitating parties should be obstructing other border points as well in they really want to.