India terms Nepali media reports of firing by SSB 'inaccurate'

The Indian Embassy here on Wednesday termed reports published by a section of the Nepali media regarding firing by Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) personnel as "inaccurate".

In a statement issued here, Embassy officials clarified that at 5.20 hrs on November 25, a SSB patrol team came across a few smugglers inside the Indian territory along the border with Sunsari District of Nepal.

When challenged the smugglers and their accomplices attacked the patrol team, injuring a constable. An SSB personnel fired in the air in self defence, following which the smugglers dispersed, said the statement.

The incident took place inside the Indian territory, in which no Nepali citizen was injured, it claimed.

The Embassy, however, maintained that the Government of India would continue to facilitate supplies to Nepal, and while doing so, the SSB would continue to maintain order and security at the Indo-Nepal border.