KATHMANDU: As many as 21 Nepali youths have been stranded in West Bengal of India.
Rakesh Kathayat, 19, a resident of Dang and 20 of his friends came to Siliguri on March 23 to look for job. After the nationwide lockdown was enforced on March 25 along with sealing of the borders, the youths made several attempts to return home.
They were stopped by the West Bengal police and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards the international border, and sent back to Siliguri. It has been 40 days since the youths are living in a government facility for migrant workers.
On Sunday, the youths walked some 30 km from Siliguri to Panitanki (a small bazaar across the Mechi Bridge) of Darjeeling district and pleaded with officials. They were once again refused entry to Nepal.
The youths claimed that they even contacted some officials in Nepal country from Siliguri.
Kathayat said, “The officials promised to help us. We walked in the rain all night. But they are not even taking our calls.” Hindustan Times reported.
“We have not eaten anything since Saturday evening,” Nikesh Malla said.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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