Festival-centric security campaign begins in Banke

By Our Correspondent 

Nepalgunj, Sept. 27: District Police Office, Banke has launched a special festival-centric campaign to avert possible cheating and fraud incidents at the border between Nepal and India as a large number of Nepali migrant workers have started returning home from India to celebrate Dashain festival.  

Daily, over 3,000 Nepalis have been entering Nepal from the border to celebrate the festivals of Dashain and Tihar. 

"We have given special attention to the security of life of migrant workers and the problems they may encounter at the border point while returning home," Superintendent of Police (SP) and Chief of the District Police Shyam Krishna Adhikari said.  Border point at Rupaidiya of Nepal-India has been managed well this year for the easy and safe entry of Nepali migrant workers. 

According to SP Adhikari, they have coordinated with the Indian security force of Jamunaha. Nepal Police has even deployed some plain cloth policemen in the border to increase surveillance of the suspected people.

Police said that Nepalis have not been harassed by the Indian securities, but some Nepali local transport operators like rickshaws, cart pullers and some bus operators on Nepal's side tend to harass them especially when they have goods with them.

According to the police, the rickshaw drivers from Jamunaha to Nepalgunj charge up to Rs. 1,000 and even some hoteliers charged high rents to Nepalis. "This time, we will strictly monitor such activities," he said. The police have also set up help desk to ease the problem and register complaint of the customers and passengers.