By Siraj Khan
Nepalgunj, Mar. 2: People of both Nepal and India have been facing a hard time commuting after the Indian side on Monday suddenly tightened security checks at the Jamunaha border checkpoint.
The Seema Suraksha Baal (SSB) deployed in the border point has increased its vigilance along the border and has been allowing citizens of both the countries to move only after an extended interrogation.
Vehicles have formed long queues at the border as tougher security measures have led to increased checking of goods.
Following strict security checks in the border point, cross-border movement has been badly affected, citizens of both the countries complained.
Rakesh Kahar, a local of Nepalgunj-11, who was returning from Lucknow, said that people including bicycles and rickshaws were moving freely from the checkpoint till Sunday.
But suddenly from Monday, the Indian side has tightened security checks on the border. They were not allowing rickshaws and bicycles to cross the border and allowing people’s movement only after a long interrogation, he added.
Kahar shared that he had waited for long to cross the border.
Kahar is not the only one who faced the hurdles. Many Nepalis returning from the checkpoint have similar experience to share.
When inquired about the situation, chief of the Jamunah Police Office, Assistant Sub-inspector Bishnu Giri said the Indian side had tightened security checks from today as a senior official of SSB had given strict instruction to the SSB to tighten security check, following his monitoring in the checkpoint.
He said the security personnel of Nepali side were doing the same as the Indian side, said Giri.
The citizens of both the countries, who have been commuting on a daily basis through this checkpoint for various purposes, have demanded with the security forces of both sides to ease the movement.
Meanwhile, the Janamat Party has also demanded with the local administration to create a conducive environment for vehicles to enter through the Jamunah checkpoint.
A team comprising party central member Irfan Ahmed Shesh handed over a memorandum to the Banke Chief District officer Ram Bahadur Kurumbang.
As the risk of COVID-19 pandemic has declined, the party has demanded that the people and vehicles should be allowed to move freely in the checkpoints.
As the Ministry of Home Affairs has already opened the checkpoints connecting India and China, it has been demanded that the cross-border movement be made easier.