Security personnel of the Sasastra Seema Bal (SSB), an Indian paramilitary force deployed along the Nepal-India border have dug over 500 meters of trench along the border in Gulariya-9 of Bardiya district of western Nepal, a newspaper report said on Wednesday.
According to Kantipur daily, the land lies between border pillars number 63 and 64 belonging to some local Nepalese.
The paper quoted a victim, Shahadat Dhobi, as saying that SSB forces encroached some 500 bigha of land in Nepali territory. “They have banned access to the encroached land that belongs to us, let alone allow any tilling there,” said another victim.
According to Govinda Pandey, coordinator of the border concern group, encroachment has been on the rise after a Nepal Police post at the border was moved elsewhere due to fear of the Maoists.
Meanwhile a report from Morang said, locals in Majhare VDC of Morang, which borders India, have become constant victims of harassment by Indian security personnel.
The Indian security men have been extorting money from the locals, beating up those failing to meet their demands and misbehaving with the women, among other things.
According to locals, the Indian security men demand huge sums and often beat those who do not meet their demands.
Following the incident, more than 200 locals went to organize a sit-in protest for three hours at the Indian security base camp at Bathna on Tuesday, led by Bijay Kumar Mandal, a ex-Indian minister.
An Indian Border Security Force base camp was set-up at Sonamani, adjoining Tarigama village, a month ago. There are around 19 security men in the camp.