Nepal expresses concern over SSB ‘firing’, asks India for probe

India has acknowledged that a skirmish with smugglers occurred on the Indian side of the border early on Wednesday morning.

Updated on: Nov 27, 2015, 08:55:04 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal on Thursday expressed grave concern over an alleged instance of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel firing on its nationals and asked India to investigate the incident.

Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) contingents take part in the passing out parade in Bhopal. (Mujeeb Faruqui/HT photo)

India has acknowledged that a skirmish with smugglers occurred on the Indian side of the border early on Wednesday morning.

A statement from Nepal’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that the “entry” of SSB personnel into Nepali territory and “use of firearms” against Nepali citizens had been brought to the notice of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

According to the statement, the incident occurred 100 metres inside Nepal at Haripur village of Sunsari district. It further said four Nepalis were injured when SSB personnel “fired” at them after a dispute.

“While urging the Indian authorities to check such actions in future, the ministry has requested for an early investigation into the incident and strong action against those involved,” the statement said.

The Indian Embassy had said in a statement on Wednesday that the SSB personnel had fired in the air in self-defence and no Nepali national was injured in the incident.

“At 05:20 hours on November 25, a patrol team of SSB came across a few smugglers inside the Indian territory across the Sunsari district of Nepal,” the statement said.

When the patrol team challenged the smugglers, they and their accomplices attacked the team and injured a constable, the statement added.

During the scuffle, an SSB personnel fired in the air in self-defence, after which the smugglers dispersed.

“The incident took place inside Indian territory and no Nepali citizen was injured,” the statement said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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