Nepal teams to inspect encroachments by Indian forces

Kathmandu, June 08: Even as the Nepal government has dismissed allegations of encroachments by Indian security forces, two Nepalese delegations are heading for the western border district of Dang to assess the situation.

Nepal's Parliament and the Unified CPN-Maoist are sending two separate teams to Dang to assess the situation after the former rebels alleged that India had encroached upon Nepalese territory and Indian security forces had assaulted local people. A section of Nepalese media had also levelled such allegations against the Indian side.

Amik Serchan, a Maoist leader, is leading an 18-party delegation today to the western district to inspect the site of alleged encroachment.

The team is scheduled to leave for Dang today, said Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma. A separate 11-member team of the Parliament, led by Padam Lal Bishworkama, has already left for Dang today to assess the situation.

The teams will inspect the border area and prepare their reports after taking stalk of the situation.

We have estimated that some 6,000 people have been displaced from the area due to harassment by Indian security personnel, said Sharma. He also rejected the Nepal government's preliminary report, which said that no such incident was reported in the area. Meanwhile, the government has set up three police posts in the area as per the request by the local people for their security.

Vindicating New Delhi's stand, the Nepalese government last week dismissed allegation by Maoists that Indian security forces had encroached in the border districts of Dang and Bara.

After a meeting with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood, Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala said last week that as per preliminary reports the government here has not found any encroachment of land and harassment of locals by Indian security forces.

The Indian embassy here had also issued a statement, saying it had cross-checked the factual situation with relevant Indian authorities and it has been clarified that there has been no violation of international border or any attack on the Nepalese nationals by Indian security forces.