Sagar Suraj
MOTIHARI: Tensions are running high at the India-Nepal border in Bihar's East Champaran district after two constables of the 20 th battalions of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were attacked by liquor smugglers on October 2.
The constables, Arun Kumar Singh and Santosh Pandurang were beaten up mercilessly, when both dared to intercept smugglers while entering Indian Territory with a large quantity of Nepali wine bottles.
Liquor sales and consumption are banned in Bihar, which has led to a rise in smuggling from Nepal. The situation took a dire turn when a large group of Nepali people joined the smugglers, thrashing the constables and attempting to drag one of them to the Nepal side.
Local villagers claims they rescued the constables, but also allege that Nepal's armed Police Force (APF) supported the smugglers. India authorities however did not confirm any involvement of APF personnel’s in the incident.
Few months ago, APF opened fire near Kharsalawa under Jharokhar police station in East Champaran district after locals raised the voice of thrashing two Indians on no-man's land by APF men.
Nepal’s armed police force had thrashed a woman, identified as Seema Devi and her husband Ravindra Prasad, residents of Kharsalwa village under Jharokhar in Ghodasahan block of East Champaran. Both had gone Nepali territory to collect fodder.
The locals, in a huff, caught hold of an APF jawan who had come to the Indian side to buy some essential commodities raising concern to the authorities of both the nations.
This incident isn't isolated; there have been previous clashes between Indian and Nepali forces. In 2020, one Indian was killed, and four others were injured in a firing incident at the Lalbandi-Janki Nagar border in Sitamarhi district. More recently, an SSB jawan was crushed to death by liquor mafia in Madhubani district .
The regular meetings of the border coordination committee between Indian and Nepali officials seem to have done little to ease tensions. The APF's alleged involvement in shielding smugglers has raised concerns about the effectiveness of these meetings.
Indian authorities on the instruction of superintendent of police (SP) Swarn Prabaht of East Champaran have filed an FIR against over a dozen smugglers, including liquor mafia Omprakash and Amarjeet. However, the question remains: how will these non-nationals be apprehended without cooperation from Nepali authorities?
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