Madhav Dhungana

On Monday, around 400 Nepalis including migrant workers, waiting to be allowed in through the Sunauli border point for the last three days, started a sit-in in the no-man’s-land area. 

The stranded are seeking entry into Nepal and are asking the government to keep them in a quarantine facility. 

Sunil Khanal, a local of Malarani in Arghakhanchi, who was at the sit-in reached Sunauli on Friday from Ghaziabad in India. “Yesterday the security personnel started baton charging us and forced us back towards the Indian side of the border,” he said. “But the Indian security force also stopped us from going back to India. We had no choice but to stage this sit-in in the no-man’s land for our message to reach the authorities.” 

According to Khanal, they have collected the names and addresses of the 400 stranded following the request of the District Administration Office in Rupandehi. 

According to the Area Police Office in Belhiya, a scuffle had broken out between the protestors and the security personnel deployed at the border point on Monday night when the former had tried to force their way across the border point. 

Janak Thapa, the information officer and also the administrative officer of the District Administration Office in Rupandehi, said the federal and provincial governments have not taken a decision yet as to the fate of the ones stranded at the Sunauli border. “We are trying to find a solution but have to await order from the higher authorities.” 

Some locals of Belhiya and Sunauli and various social organisations in Bhairawaha are providing food and water to the stranded for the past three days. 

On Monday, a Cabinet meeting of Province 5 government passed a decision to rescue the stranded Nepalis across various border points in the province and facilitate their travel to their home districts. The meeting also decided to keep them in quarantine facilities in their respective districts. The decision, however, is yet to be implemented.

Three days ago, a high-level committee for the prevention and control of Covid-19 led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel had decided to rescue all stranded Nepalis at various border points of the country. But three days since, Nepalis across various border points in the country are waiting to be let in.

Published on: 31 March 2020 | The Kathmandu Post