Nepalese cops cross border to take shelter in SSB posts during

New Delhi, Sep 3: In an unprecedented incident, over three dozen armed Nepalese police personnel crossed the border and took shelter in frontier posts of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) when Nepal witnessed sporadic incidents of violence and attacks on the men in uniform recently.

The Indian side, under constant monitoring of National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, facilitated the cross-border movement of the officers and men of Armed Police Force (APF) of Nepal in the last few days to SSB posts in the face of the erupting trouble.

APF, in the wake of ethnic Madhesi group protesters agitating against the proposed new Constitution in two towns bordering India, had to close down their border posts in Chandramohana, Sanphulawa, Dewapur in Bara district while it had to "concentrate" and bring its Dhore and Pake police stations to Pakha in Parsa district of Nepal.

Sashastra Seema Bal not only provided security to these police officials but also ensured food and other facilities to them during their short stay at Indian border posts at locations like Raxaul and Piparkoti in Bihar and other places when incidents of violence were being reported from the country including against police forces.

Following the fast-paced developments, SSB Director General B D Sharma got into a hotline contact with his counterpart and APF chief Kosh Raj Onta to ensure that Nepalese police officials are accommodated well in the times of crisis at Indian posts.

Officials said on September 1, about 18 personnel of Nepalese armed police were hosted at the Sikta border post of SSB in East Champaran of Bihar along the Indo-Nepal border. Another group of officials were later hosted at some other SSB border posts.

"Our directions were clear to field commanders that they should help our counterparts in all ways possible. We did not cross the border but made sure we are there to receive them nicely in case of help and provide them all assistance," Sharma, who is on a tour to these areas, told PTI.

PTI