Indian vehicles not allowed to enter Nepal

Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 29

Indian vehicles were denied entry into Nepal at Banbasa border in Champawat district today after a faction of Nepalese Maoists called for a bandh against alleged anti-Nepal policies of India.

The bandh affected Mahendranagar town of Kanchanpur district on the India-Nepal border.

“We have not allowed Indian vehicles into Nepal via Banbasa bridge today after a bandh call by the Maoists (Viplav faction) in Nepal, but Nepalese vehicles plied normally,” said DS Kunwar, Superintendent of Police, Champawat.

The decision to prevent the entry of Indian vehicles was taken at a meeting attended by officials of the SSB and the Nepalese police, the police officer said.

“The Nepalese police had advised against allowing Indian vehicle towards their territory fearing violence by the Maoist group which has called for the bandh,” said the SP. The Champawat SP said the Indian police had stopped the smuggling of petroleum products from Banbasa towards Nepal after shortage of fuel in Nepal and some gangs of smugglers had gone active on the border as well.

“We have controlled trips of some Nepalese smugglers who used to make several visits inside Indian territory to take petrol and diesel illegally to that country,” said the Champawat SP.

The SP said the SSB and Nepalese police besides several intelligence agencies had beefed up security on the border adjoining Champawat.