A day after cargo trucks started crossing into Nepal freely through the Birgunj-Raxaul border, local leaders of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha on Saturday attempted to block the border point, but only to face a backlash.

Just when the SLMM leaders and cadres were preparing to stage a protest near the no-man’s-land near the Birgunj-Raxaul point, Indian traders, assisted by Indian Civil Police of Haraiya Station in Raxaul, foiled their plan to obstruct the vehicular movement. On Friday, local residents and businessmen had pulled down tents before setting them on fire and forcefully removed roadblocks, allowing vehicles to enter Nepal from the Indian side.

The SLMM leaders had called their activists at the Miteri bridge at 2pm, but only a handful of protesters had turned up at around 3pm. Their plan to obstruct vehicular movement, however, went in vain. SLMM protesters also hurled stones towards the Indian traders near the no-man’s-land, but they were chased away immediately. 

After their attempt to obstruct the border failed, the protesters returned to Birgunj. At least two SLMM protesters were injured.

According to sources, central level leaders of the SLMM had directed their activists to stage a sit-in at least for an hour at the border. Local SLMM leaders had requested the local administration to allow them to organise a sit-in for an hour, but their protest hardly lasted 10 minutes.

 Sushil Sharma, spokesperson for the Birgunj Customs Office, said around Rs 20 million was collected in revenue on Saturday. 

“Hundreds of cargo carriers, including four gas bullets, have crossed into Birgunj in the last 24 hours. These gas bullets have been waiting for customs clearance at Raxaul border,” said Chief District Officer (CDO) Keshavraj Ghimire, adding that the process to reroute 62 gas bullets, which have been stuck in Raxaul for days, have been cancelled, as the border has opened now. 

CDO Ghimire said 

that most probably fuel trucks will start crossing the Birgunj-Raxaul point from Monday.