KATHMANDU: Responding to the letter sent by Anil Kumar Shukla, Deputy Magistrate of Dharchula in India, Nepal’s Chief District Officer (CDO) of Darchula Sharad Kumar Pokhrel said it is ‘normal’ for Nepali citizens to travel to Nepali territories, including Kalapani, Gunji, and Limpiyadhura.

It should be noted that the Shukla had written to the Darchula District Administration Office asking the latter to check ‘illegal entry’ of Nepali citizens to Kalapani, Gunji and Limpiyadhura.

The letter sent by Pokhrel to the Indian side states that it is evident from the Article 5 of the Sugauli Treaty of 1816 and the subsequent facts and the facts that Kali River and the areas including Nabi, Limpiyadhura, Gunji, Kuti, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh belong to Nepal.

The letter further states that the Government of Nepal believes that the travel of Nepali citizens in those areas is ‘normal’.

Earlier, CDO Pokhrel had informed the Home Ministry soon after he had received the letter form the Indian side that asked the Nepali authorities to stop the movement of Nepali citizens to those areas.

The Indian letter had earlier stated that pointed some Nepali citizens were trying to clandestinely cross the border illegally to enter Kalapani, Gunji, and Limpiyadhura.

The border dispute between Nepal and India has escalated after India issued a new political map in November 2019 including Nepali territory of Kalapani, Lipu Lek and Limpiyadhura.

It should be recalled that the Government of Nepal had on May 18 endorsed the new revised map incorporating Lipu Lekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura as the Indian side on May 8 inaugurated the road via Lipu Lekh 8.

The Parliament had in June endorsed a Constitution amendment bill to implement the new map.