The Darchula District Administration Office has written a letter to Indian authorities in Dharchula of Uttarakhand, asking it not to prevent Nepali citizens from entering Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani.
The letter stated that Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani are Nepali territories as per Article 5 of Sugauli Treaty, maps and historical facts and evidences and hence Nepali nationals should not be barred from going to these areas.
Chief District Officer of Darchula district Sharad Kumar Pokharel wrote the letter in in response to Indian authorities’ letter to his office.
On July 14, India’s Dharchula Sub-district official Anil Kumar Shukla had sent a letter to Darchula DAO, calling for an end to the ‘illegal’ entry of Nepalis into the territories.
Stating that such ‘illegal’ crossing of the border would create problems for administrations of both countries, Shukla had urged the Nepali side to stop ‘illegal’ crossings and inform the Indian side about any such activity.
“Though India sent the letter, locals said they weren’t stopped by anyone,” said Pokhrel.
India is said to have adopted a strict policy regarding movement in the Kalapani region after Nepal’s Armed Police Force set up a border outpost at Gaga in Chhangaru.
According to local residents, Indian security forces have come a kilometre further down from where they were earlier in Kalapani and created a barricade by gathering boulders.
Kalapani is some 14 km from Chhangaru.
On July 13, the government had decided to set up an APF gulma in Chhangaru Gaga.
Moreover, the Nepali Army is working to open a track to Chhangaru by setting up a camp in Ghatibagar, Byas and to construct Darchula-Tinkar road.
Despite Nepal’s repeated calls for dialogue on the long-standing border dispute including Kalapani and Susta territories, India has not made any initiation to resolve the matter.