Indians flee Nepal, Enter Bihar and West Bengal

Siliguri, Feb 04: Grave concerns were expressed in various quarters following massive influx in Bengal and Bihar after alleged police brutality on the Madhesias (persons of Indian origin) in Nepal.

According to preliminary estimates over 10,000 "Medhesias" (Nepalese citizens of Indian origin) were forced to leave kingdom for past few days after anti-Government protest and subsequent violence at Biratnagar in Nepal. The Indians, who live in Nepal since centuries, were now forced to flee the country due to police brutality there. The displaced people were entering Indian villages through porous borders of Bihar and West Bengal, official sources here said today.

"Over 10,000 Medhesias have crossed Nepal borders and enter into India's villages in last few days. North Dinajpur in West Bengal is mainly affected by the influx" said Kamal Chakraverty, the Additional District Magistrate of North Dinajpur. He told UNI the displaced people from Nepal were now flocking North Dinajpur besides Araria, Yogbani, Forbeshgunj and Birpur districts in Bihar.

He said all border police stations in West Bengal have been alerted. He said efforts were on to keep in touch with the Bihar government regarding large scale influx.

A displaced person from Biratnagar said he broke jungle trails along with his kids and and aged parents and trekked to India for almost two days in a bid to save his family members from police torture. He alleged that the Kathmandu administration was not reacting on police brutality on the Madhesias, a derogatory term for Indian origin in Nepal.

The Nepalese community of Indian origins was sponsoring indefinite strike demading greater representation in political parties, Nepal Parliament and in the Government and security agencies. The movement sponsored by Madhesia Janadhikar Forum (MJF).

Another party of 12 Nepalese tribes has also put up the same demand.

Deputy Inspector General of Sasastra Seema Bal(SSB), North Bengal, Harish Chandra Panday told UNI that the jawans were keeping a close watch on the volatile situation.

In Patna the Bihar Congress spokesman Kripanath Pathak alleged that the Nepalese police had unleashed a reign of terror over Madhesias forcing them to leave homes.

"The Nepalese government is not serious to bring the situation under control and protect their lives and properties" he said in a statement yesterday.

"Mass inflow of Madhesias from Nepal into India was posing threats to our internal security as chances of Maoist activists sneaking with them into bordering districts of Bihar are high" he observed.

He urged New Delhi to raise the issue with the Nepalese government to ensure protection of lives and properties of the people of Indian origin.

UNI