India-Nepal border situation under control

Kolkata, May 30: The situation at Panitanki on the Indo-Nepal border remained under control today after yesterday's clash between Bhutanese refugees and security forces in which at least two persons were killed and more than 35 injured.

Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb said the Centre had directed that no person without valid documents would be allowed to enter the Indian territory from across the border.

''The situation on the India-Nepal border in North Bengal is now under control. We have been in touch with the Centre which has said people without valid documents will not be allowed to enter from across the Nepal border,'' he said.

Meanwhile, political parties held a meeting today at the local level and decided to persuade the Bhutanese refugees not to cross the border, the Chief Secretary said.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said he had telephonic talks with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on yesterday's incident and the situation prevailing there.

Violence broke out when a large number of Bhutanese refugees pelted stones at Indian securitymen, while trying to enter Bhutan via India to take part in the mock election in Bhutan. The securitymen fired in retaliation, killing two.

Among the injured were Darjeeling's Superintendant of Police Rajesh Subarna and personnel of the Sashastra Sima Bal, the Indian security force, and the West Bengal Police.

UNI

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