At least three teams of high-level Indian security officials entered Birgunj area with rifles and their ammunitions from the Raxaul customs point this past week, sources said.

Though there are no vehicular movements in the no-man’s-land along the Miteri bridge due to the ongoing sit-ins, Indian security personnel have been entering Nepal from the border point without any obstructions.

A Deputy Superintendent of Indian Police (DSP) along with his team was stopped by Inarwa Police Post on the Nepali side of the border just 300 metres from the sit-in area on Friday evening, as they were driving in two vehicles (BR 33 M 7616 and BR 09 R 3953) with arms and ammunitions.

Superintendent of Police Rajbabu Shrestha said police deployed in the border area stopped the vehicles from entering Nepal.

“One of the vehicles drove back to India, while another with its occupants in plain cloth entered Birgunj when we demanded to change their police uniforms and submit the rifle and bullets,” SP Shrestha said.

According to a source, the Indian DSP team had crossed the border into Birgunj area escorting an Indian VIP team in another vehicle. The VIP team returned to India

after having lunch and shopping in Birgunj, said the source. Similarly, another team of Indian security force was also stopped by the border police on Friday morning. “They were in police uniform and had also tried to enter Birgunj in two vehicles with arms and ammunitions. The Nepal Police personnel inquired with them for four hours at the border point,” the source added.

 A week ago, Indian SP Narwada Prasad Warkade and his team armed with an AK-47 assault rifle had entered Birgunj from Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh via Raxaul. Upon enquiry by Parsa police, Warkade and his men reportedly explained that they had reached there by mistake.

Though the Nepal-India border has been sealed for 48 hours from Saturday morning due to elections across the border in Bihar, supporters of the Madhes-based parties were allowed to stage sit-ins at the Miteri bridge. How could the Indian Seema Surakshya Bal, which did not allow people even to stand on the bridge during such elections in the past, let a sit-in at the sensitive no-man’s-land now, locals question.

Likewise, Indian truck drivers, who have been stranded at the Birgunj border crossing, continued their sit-in protest outside the India’s Consulate General Office for the sixth day. The drivers were worried as there was no initiation to lift the ongoing banda and obstructions at the border point.  

Our correspondent from Mahottari reported that protesters had torched a motorcycle at Shreepur VDC and thrashed motorcyclist Pawan Yadav on Friday night. In Rautahat, most of the shops remained closed as they ran out of stocks.

Three held on charge of burning Chinese flag

BIRGUNJ: Police arrested three protesters on the charge of burning Chinese flag on Friday night. Central Member of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Sanjaya Yadav, District Chairman of Sadbhawana Party Imdad Gaddhi and Om Prakash Sarraf of Nepal Pariwar Dal were held, police said. “We have been searching for others who were involved in the incident,” said SP Rajbabu Shrestha. Meanwhile, Madhesi leaders said they had torched the flag in protest of China’s support in easing fuel crisis in Nepal.

(With inputs from our local correspondents)