Indo-Nepal border movement going unchecked

Sonouli Border (UP), Dec 10 (ANI): Despite the frequency of terror attacks in India, security along the Indo-Nepal border has largely gone unchecked.

Residents living in the Sonouli area along Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh say they are worried as there is no mechanism at the border to screen people crossing over into India.

Even after having so many policemen, the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB), the custom and immigration check posts in the Indian area, tourists from Nepal sitting inside a bus can enter without being checked.

"We are ready to have luggage checked, but these security people demand money. When we ask them to just do their duty, they start abusing us," claimed Anwar Ali, a tourist.

Several tourist buses frequently cross the border from Kathmandu."We haven't been through any checking process. When we came inside the Indian area, we were checked in a lenient manner, but when the security officials saw the luggage, they demanded money. If we don't pay them, they can seize our luggage at that moment," said Ravi, another tourist.

In the name of the identity of the tourists, a list of their names is given to the immigration check posts. Once the list is with them, they are ready to enter the Indian border.

In their explanations, the immigration officers had the excuse that they are doing desk jobs. According to that they check passports of only those foreign tourists who come inside their office.

According to the sources, almost 100 tourists pass the Indo-Nepal border near Sonouli everyday. Almost 84 kilometer area of the Sonouli border area is open for the tourists as well as militants to pass without any security.

"India and Nepal share a distinct friendship. But if the terrorists are taking advantage of that friendship by crossing the border to execute their terror designs, the Indian Government should talk to the Nepal Government and decide accordingly," said K.K Tripathi, Deputy Inspector General, Gorakhpur Zone, Uttar Pradesh.

The Indo-Nepal border area has always been a playground for elements engaged in antinational activities. To counter these issues, SSB was deployed at the border area in 2002. (ANI)