Cargo movement via Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha was obstructed again on Tuesday within hours of reopening of the border point as supporters of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha resumed their sit-in on the no-man’s-land.

Dozens of cargo trucks including three fuel tankers entered Nepal from Rupaidiha on Tuesday morning. On Monday night, a truck laden with medicines and three fuel tankers crossed over to Nepalgunj, police said. The Indian Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) had shut the border as the SLMM assembled in the border area.

Sub-inspector Bishnu Giri of Area Police Office, Jamunaha said the SSB had stopped the cargo on the Indian side of the border after the Morcha’s protest.

Around 20 Morcha supporters are picketing the customs point. According to the police post, the Indian authorities had refused to resume cross-border vehicular movement. “They barred the cargo even as we assured security of the trucks in the Nepali territory. However, the local administration has been coordinating with Indian authorities to ease the traffic.

Meanwhile, the Biratnagar-Jogbani and Kakadbhitta-Panitanki border points have seen better flow of cross-border traffic. According to the Biratnagar Customs, 75 percent trucks including some fuel tankers come in from Jogbani, India, on a daily basis. In the past two days, 42 fuel tankers arrived from Panitanki.

Although there is no obstruction at the Bhairahawa-Sunauli point, Indian authorities have still been restricting the cargo movement. Only 100 cargo trucks enter Nepal on a daily average. Bhairahawa Customs reported controlled flow of fuel, medicine and essential cargoes via Sunauli. At least 36 trucks, most of them carrying vegetables and fruits, came in from Sunauli on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, cargo awaiting customs clearance at Sunauli for several weeks has started to be rerouted through Dhangadhi and Krishnanagar.