13 jawans detained by Nepal released

Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF) personnel deployed at the Border Account Post at Kechana Village in Jhapa district, bordering Bihar’s Kishanganj district, arrested the SSB jawans around 6:30 AM on Sunday, according to Nepal Police sources. Four SSB jawans were carrying modern rifles, they said.

All 13 SSB personnel were later released after being briefly kept at the APF camp in Kechana.

Assistant Chief District Officer Dambaru Prasad Niraula said they were handed over to the Indian side after an investigation into the incident.

“They (SSB jawans) were quizzed on reason for entering Nepal,” Mr Nirauala was quoted as saying.

Indian officials in New Delhi said the patrol party comprising 13 SSB personnel followed the lead team of two jawans, identified as Constables Roshan and Ramprasad of the 12th SSB battalion deployed in the area, and “inadvertently” crossed over to the other side about 50 metres into Khuntanmani village where villagers surrounded it. “Thirteen of our men were detained by the APF at a border post along the Indo-Nepal border. I had an interaction with the APF Chief and IG Mr Kesh Raj Onta and he had assured that these men will be released,” SSB Director General B D Sharma told PTI in New Delhi.

He also added that there has been no ‘bodily harm’ to the SSB personnel and that they have been extended due courtesies by the APF. The paramilitary force guards the 1,751 km-long open frontier with Nepal. Relations between India and Nepal have nosedived in recent months as Indian-origin Madhesis protesting against the new Constitution have blocked key border trade points with India, causing severe shortages of fuel and other essentials in the country.