Home Minister Kamal Thapa has said that the government has drawn the attention of India to the growing smuggling of explosives and ammunition from across the border and urged the Indian government to monitor the common, open border properly.
Addressing a press meet organised at his office on Wednesday, Thapa urged the Indian government to beef up security arrangements along the border, adding the haul of explosives that entered Nepal through Sunauli border on February 28 could have razed an entire city.
Thapa said that the “consignment” appeared as if coming right from the factory. “The consignment does not indicate it was procured from the open market. They could be from a factory.”
Security forces had seized an Indian truck loaded with 2500 kg of Gelatin, 475 kg of Neogel-90, 7500 meters of safety fuse, 397,000 pieces of detonators near the India-Nepal border.
Thapa also said that the Maoists who clashed with security forces in Ilam could have got their illegal supply of explosives from across the border.
Reacting to the New Delhi visit of some leaders of political parties, Thapa said that “it was unfortunate that the parties were going to New Delhi rather than paying heed to the call issued by the institution of monarchy. That does not bode well.”
He also lamented the way the alliance was trying to enter into a working relationship with the Maoists.