The National Human Rights Commission has said it has found that government agencies were “facilitating” smuggling of petroleum products from India.

After a month-long monitoring of Tarai districts bordering India, the national rights body has concluded that petroleum products are being smuggled from across the border in collusion with security forces and local administration.

Commission officials had visited border points of Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Chitwan and Parsa districts.  

The NHRC report claimed that petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas in huge

volumes were being smuggled from Thori, Nirmalbasti and Subarnapur villages of Parsa district.

“Security agencies are indifferent to black-marketeering and smuggling from the transits other than Birgunj,” said the report.

According to the report, around 150,000 litres of petroleum products were being smuggled through Thori alone on a daily basis.

The commission has also warned of loss of property and life in case of explosion, as these highly inflammable items are being stored in huge quantities in these bordering villages.

According to NHRC Spokesperson Mohna Ansari, smugglers have stored petroleum products in large volumes, which could pose a huge security threat to general public’s life.

The commission also said the state was losing a huge amount of revenue due to “thriving smuggling of petroleum products”.

“Smuggling is taking place and local authorities are very much aware of it,” said Ansari.

“It was also reported by the media, but the security agencies and local administration have failed to take any action,” she added.

According to her, youths as well as children were found  involved in transporting petroleum products in buses, jeeps, tipper trucks, tractors, motorcycles and even cycles in these areas.