No-man’s-land area at Miteri Bridge in Birgunj-Raxaul border point has remained tense for the past three weeks due to demonstrations of the Madhes-based parties.

The protesters are demonstrating in the open area which stretches around 400 metres in between customs offices of Nepal and India.

Security officials said protesters go to the Indian side of the border when they are chased away from the Nepali territory. Protesters have also set up tents at the no man’s land, bringing cross-border movement to a grinding halt. They are managing drinking water and lunch twice a day and have their meals in a mess operated on the Raxaul godown premises in the Indian side.

Nepali security personnel said they can remove the obstruction within 10 minutes if the Indian security officials cooperate them. However, the protesters have been occupying the area due to the apathy of the Indian authorities, they claimed. 

Experts said that the Indian side, which has adopted a “wait and watch” policy, has been using Raxaul border to exert pressure on Nepal government to address the protesters’ demands.