Kanchanpur, March 9
At the bordering Nepali town of Ananda Bazaar, Kanchanpur district, there was no presence of the Nepali state on Thursday as Indians, with SSB in tow, overran and looted Nepali houses and shanties after SSB shooting killed a Nepali national, Govinda Gautam, as a territorial dispute took a nasty turn.
According to eyewitnesses, Indians accompanied with SSB personnel barged into the house of Shyam Gurung, which also had a shop, looting goats, utensils, clothes and a motorcycle as protesters dispersed after the indiscriminate use of force. Thenafter, Indians, with SSB in tow, barged into other houses at Punarvas municipality in the bazaar and resorted to vandalism, while Nepali security personnel, who were under the command of a police inspector, remained a mute spectator, locals complained.
Armed Police Force inspector Ram Khatri and another sub-inspector sustained injuries when Indians pelted stones during the clashes.
After the death of Gautam at Dhangadhi Hospital, tension has escalated in the bazaar. The area was initially under the command of Nepal Police. At around 2 pm, an APF team reached the site. Kanchanpur CDO and Superintendent of Police have also reached the site. Nepali officials and SSB officials are holding talks, even as Nepali protesters continue to shout slogans against the border breach.
