Bhairahawa, March 15
The Department of Immigration is conducting a probe into the recent illegal entry of 47 US nationals of Vietnamese origin and a Canadian national into Nepal from Belhiya in Uttar Pradesh, India. Last Friday, Onlinekhabar had run a report revealing that the foreigners had managed to visit a number of places in Nepal, including Gautam Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini and the national capital Kathmandu, without visa.
“Based on the report published on Onlinekhabar, we have started homework for a probe,” information officer at the department, Bishwa Prakash Neupane, told Onlinekhabar.
On February 28, 2016, the 47 Americans and a Canadian national had entered Nepal through Belhiya. At night, they left the hotel where they had stayed and sneaked out of the Bhairahawa-Belhiya border.
Neupane said they will pursue an investigation into the case after holding discussions with stakeholders. The immigration department cannot monitor all customs points through which foreigners enter Nepal, he said, adding that police should also monitor the customs.
He said the department will discuss the matter with the Belhiya immigration office, Rupandehi police and police officials from all districts that lie on the Bhairahawa-Kathmandu land route.
Nepal’s Immigration laws does not allow anyone to let foreign nationals without passport and visa enter, stay and leave the Nepali territory. It bars travel agencies and hotels from providing accommodation to foreigners without travel documents like passport and visa.
