The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that its border security froce Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has initiated an enquiry on the death of a Nepal man, allegedly in a firing by SSB, at Nepal-India border in Kanchanpur district on Thursday.

A 32-year-old man from Ananda Bazaar of Punarbas Municipality-8 in Kanchanpur district died when India’s SSB allegedly opened fire on locals at border on Thursday. The victim has been identified as Gobinda Gautam of Punarbas Municipality-8.

Earlier on Thursday, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu had categorically denied any firing attack by SSB at Ananda Bazaar, Kanchanpur. 

In a statement on Friday, MEA spokesman Gopal Baglay said the government of Nepal has been requested through diplomatic channels to share the post-mortem and forensic reports of the incident that took place at Nepal-India border on Thursday and to faciliate the process. 

"Officials of the two bordering districts—Kanchanpur of Nepal and Lakhimpur Khiri of India—have met in the backdrop of the prevailing situation and agreed to maintain peace and order," read Baglay's statement. 

Tension was running high along the border since Thursday morning over the construction of a culvert on the Nepali side by locals. A row over culvert construction had continued since long, as the area where the structure was being built is said to be disputed with the Indian side claiming it not to be on Nepali territory.