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Indian border cops ‘harassing Nepalis’
MAHENDRANAGAR/DHANGADI, AUG 21 -
Indian customs officials and security personnel stationed at Gaurifanta and Gaddachauki border points in the Far Western districts of Kailali and Kanchanpur are accused of mistreating and extorting Nepali nationals.
Many Nepalis cross the two checkpoints on a daily basis. Locals of bordering villages frequent Indian marketplaces for grocery items, and people from various western districts, who go to India for employment, also return via the points. They say Indian customs officials and border security personnel harass them all the time.
On Wednesday, customs officials at Gaurifanta allegedly robbed Devlal Sawad of Achham district of IRs. 5,000. He was returning home from Mumbai after a year of work there. Though he said he recovered the money with the help of Nepal Police, Sawad said he was embarrassed at the way he was treated by the Indian officials.
Around 30 Nepali migrant workers staying in different hotels at Dhangadi admitted to have paid from IRs. 500 to IRs.1,000 to Indian customs officials and security personnel at Gaurifanta under no legal obligation.
“After they threatened to take away all my money, I was compelled to pay them IRs. 500,” said Gambhir Buda, a migrant worker from Achham.
Bindra Shahi of Tikapur Municipality-8 in Kailali district said she was robbed of IRs. 2,000 at the customs while returning with her sick son from Paliya of India.
“Left without a penny, I had to borrow from another Nepali for the rickshaw ride,” she said.
Chief District Officer in Kailali, Narayan Prasad Bidari, said the issue of harassment meted out by Indian border authorities on Nepalis was brought up during the security meeting with the Indian side.
Indian security personnel and customs employees allegedly extort Nepalis while crossing the border at Gaddachauki on the pretext of security checks. “They stopped me four times at Banwasa Bridge and asked me to show my belongings. I bribed them IRs. 250 to be left free,” said Prem Bahadur Bohara of Rilu-9 in Bajhang. A worker in Banglore, he was returning home on Thursday.
Posted on: 2010-08-22 09:04
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