New Delhi: A civilian was killed and three others were injured after they were shot by Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) following “an altercation” that took place around 1.5 km inside Nepalese territory, a senior Indian security official told ThePrint.
Director General, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Rajesh Chandra said at least 15 rounds were fired by the Nepalese forces after more Indian villagers rushed in following the altercation near the border in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district at 8.40 am Friday.
“The incident happened deep inside Nepal (around 1.5 kilometer inside) and was a local issue triggered by an altercation. It is not something that was brewing for a long time,” Chandra said.
Tension between Indian and Nepal has been brewing since May after Kathmandu released a controversial new political map, which shows the disputed territories of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani within its borders.
Chandra said a woman, who is a citizen of Nepal, was going towards the border when personnel from the Nepal APF stopped her.
“The Nepal side said they stopped the woman and asked her to go away as Nepal still has a lockdown until 14 June, but she did not listen and called her relatives,” Chandra said.
“Lot of people from the adjoining village gathered there and there was an altercation with Nepal APF,” he added.
“The Nepal APF claims they tried to disperse the people, but they did not listen following which they had to fire 10 rounds in the air,” Chandra said.
According to Chandra, the Nepal APF then fired five rounds parallel to the ground, which hit four civilians, out of which one, identified as Vikesh Yadav (22), was killed and three sustained bullet wounds.
Also read: Won’t accept ‘artificial enlargement’ of territory — India hits back as Nepal redraws map
The sequence
According to a police officer from Bihar, the local police from Sonbarsa police station was called in first, and then the SSB was informed.
“We received a call in the morning about firing near the border. A police team reached the spot to find four people who had sustained bullet wounds. While one died on the spot, the other three sustained severe wounds on their legs, arms, abdomen, and are critical,” a police officer from Bihar told ThePrint over the phone.
The injured were then brought to the Indian side and admitted at a hospital in Sitamarhi.
The arrest
The Nepal APF arrested one Lagen Yadav, who is the father-in-law of the woman who allegedly started the altercation.
“He has been arrested by the Nepal APF and it is upto them if they will now register a case against him or release him. The local administration in Nepal will now decide that. There will be no diplomatic talks for his release,” a senior SSB officer said.
Also read: Kathmandu crossed red lines. India-Nepal relations are entering a deep freeze