Indian porters, protesters clash at Birgunj border
A group of porters, mostly Indian nationals, carrying essentials from bordering Indian town of Raxaul to Nepal clashed with the cadres of Sanghiya Samabeshi Madhesi Gathabandhan (SSMG) at Miteri bridge near Birgunj-Raxaul border on Wednesday morning. Three protesters sustained injuries in the incident.
A group of porters, mostly Indian nationals, carrying essentials from bordering Indian town of Raxaul to Nepal clashed with the cadres of Sanghiya Samabeshi Madhesi Gathabandhan (SSMG) at Miteri bridge near Birgunj-Raxaul border on Wednesday morning. Three protesters sustained injuries in the incident.
The clash erupted when the SSMG cadres tried to obstruct the proters from crossing the bridge. The area was tense throughout the day.
According to the locals who witnessed the clash, the porters hurled three Molotov cocktails and stones at the protesters from the no-man’s-land while the SSMG protesters retaliated wearing motorcycle helmets.
SSMG leader Rajeshman Singh said at least three protesters were injured.
“They were enraged because they could not smuggle fuel and other daily essentials from the border point,” he said.
He added that the porters fled towards Raxaul after more SSMG supporters arrived at the scene. Police arrived 40 minutes after the clash.
The supporters of Madhes-based parties and local traders have also clashed several times since the blockade because of the dispute over importing essentials from bordering Indian town.
Meanwhile, protesters vandalised three dozen tempos at Sankharachayra gate for defying banda.
Bhairahawa-Sunauli border calm
There is a very little restriction on cargo movement at Bhairahawa-Sunauli border for the past one month. Chief Bhairahawa Customs Office Labanya Kumar Dhakal said Nepal-bound cargoes are not being stopped across the border in Sunauli by the Indian authorities these days. He added that not a single cargo has stranded in Sunauli after the restriction was lifted.
Similarly, the cargoes stranded at Kakadbhitta-Panitanki border have started to enter Nepal after the Indian authorities started road expansion works in Panitanki area.
Raju Maharjan, an agent at Mechi Customs, said many vehicles have entered Nepal after the Indian government started expanding the highway at Panitanki. Around 700 vehicles entered Kakadbhitta in the past two days alone.
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