Indian security personnel at the Kakadbhitta-Panitanki border point have restricted trucks carrying goods imported from countries other than India from entering Nepal, traders have complained.

Although the border point has largely remained peaceful, India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has stopped the Nepal-bound cargo containers citing security reasons, resulting in a queue of about 150 vehicles on the Indian side of the border.

A source at the Mechi Customs Office said although the agitating Madhesi parties have not created any obstruction at the border point, India stopped the Nepal-bound goods “unnecessarily”. “This is unjustified,” the source said.

The Nepali traders said the Indian security personnel’s move was just to harass them unnecessarily as the goods have already received clearance from Indian customs in Kolkata and Panitanki. 

Nepali customs officials too said trucks have already completed the process of “customs transit declaration (CTD)”. “The Indian security forces take 4-5 hours to check a single truck,” siad Bhim Adhikari, chief of Mechi Customs Office. “They are obstructing the trucks deliberately.”

The stranded cargo containers are carrying goods imported from countries including Bangaldesh and China, according to the customs office. 

Yadav Raj Siwakoti, chief of Nepal Transit and Warehouse Company Limited at Kakarbhitta, said India could not obstruct the trucks that have already completed the CTD process. “India should have given an exit to the trucks as per the Nepal-India Transit Treaty,” he said.

Siwakoti said about 30 trucks carrying goods like raw jute, juice and cotton imported from Bangladesh have been stranded at Panitanki for the last six days. “The trucks are piling up,” said Siwakoti.

Nepali Consular General in Kolkata Chandra Ghimire said India’s move to restrict Chinese goods that were cleared by the Kolkata customs office was “unfortunate”. “We are working to ease the situation,” he said.

According to a trader Dilip Timsina, some goods imported from China have started to get damaged due the obstruction. “Apple and other fruits have started to per sigh,” he said. 

The traders said if the obstruction continues for a few days, the goods imported targeting the Tihar festival could turn useless, resulting in heavy losses.