Nepal govt says no evidence of encroachment by Indian forces

I / Kathmandu June 6, 2009, 14:21 IST

Vindicating New Delhi's stand, the Nepalese government has dismissed allegation by Maoists that Indian security forces had encroached the border districts of Dang and Bara, saying it had found no evidence in this regard.

After a meeting with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood, Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala told reporters last night that as per preliminary reports the government here has not found any encroachment of land and harassment of locals by Indian security forces.

"The government has sent a team to investigate the matter and so far as per our information, no such thing has come out," she said.

 

Her remarks follow Maoists' allegation that Indian security forces had encroached the border in Dang and Bara districts and shifted the pillars. A section of Nepalese media had also levelled such allegations against the Indian side.

Ambassador Sood said the allegations were totally false and fabricated and that some people were deliberately spreading the rumour to disturb the friendly ties between the neighbouring countries. He asked the Nepalese government to investigate the matter.

The Indian embassy here also issued a statement, saying it has cross-checked the factual situation with relevant Indian authorities and it has been clarified that there has been no violation of international border or any attack on the Nepalese nationals by Indian security forces.

It also said that no border pillar has been shifted or tampered with.

"In response to queries from district authorities on the Indian side, their Nepalese counterparts have conveyed that no reports have been registered with them in this regard either," the statement said.

The embassy also categorically rejected the allegations carried in a section of the Nepalese media in this regard as baseless and motivated by vested interests in an attempt to vitiate the friendly and cordial bilateral relationship.

The government and people of India remain fully committed to strengthening and enhancing the traditionally-strong bilateral ties with Nepal, especially between the people of both countries, the embassy said.