DARCHULA: The Armed Police Force (APF) has currently increased its vigilance at the Nepal-India border after Nepalis have started crossing the Mahakali River to come back to Nepal.
The Mahakali river forms the border with India.
People crossing the river by swimming or on tire tubes have been taken under control and kept in quarantines.
Nepalis stranded in various places of India due to the lockdown have started crossing the Mahakali river, mostly during night to avoid police action as the border transit with India is closed.
The APF has increased its vigilance to stop such risky and illegal crossing of border via river.
Nepali migrant workers have arrived at the border from India’s different places, including Delhi and Pithoragadh with the relaxation of the lockdown in India.
According to them, India has been bussing them up to the border with Darchula.
Meanwhile, APF personnel took 11 people who had crossed the river by swimming or using rubber tubes under control from Lekam and Lali areas on Tuesday.
They have been placed under quarantine, APF Nepal No 50 Company Darchula stated.
APF has also mobilized its personnel to keep watch on the border with India 24 hours with the announcement of lockdown on March 24.
APF Nepal No 50 Company Darchula’s Deputy Superintendent, Dambar Bahadur Bishta said that although a large number of Nepalis stranded on the other side of the border and staying in quarantine in India were brought home on April 30, the flow of people entering the district by illegally crossing the border has not stopped yet.
Police have also confiscated two tire tubes used for illegally crossing the border via Mahakali river. It is said people have been paying somewhere between Rs 1,600 to 2,500 per person to cross the river on tubes to come to Nepal.
APF has increased its vigilance at present at 10 various places from Lali of Lekam up to Byas. It is said hundreds of Nepalis have started arriving at the Indian border towns from various places of India with the relaxation of the lockdown there.
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