By Lokendra Joshi, Darchula, July 29: Assistant Chief District Officer (CDO) of Darchula district has written to his counterpart in bordering Indian district of Dharchula to not create any obstacles for the Nepalis visiting Nepali territory such as Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limipiyadhura.

The Nepali officer's letter is in response to the Indian officer's letter in which the Kalapani area was claimed as India's and Nepali officer was urged to ban entry of the Nepalis in the Kalapani area including Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura and share information if any Nepali entered the area.

Sharad Kumar Pokharel, Darchula CDO, informed that the letter was sent to the Indian officer following instruction from the Home Ministry.

In the letter sent to the Indian officer, it is mentioned that it is normal and usual for the Nepalis to move to and fro in areas around the Kali (Mahakali) River and eastern part of it such as Limpiyadhura, Nabi, Kuti, Gunji, Lipu Lekh and Kalapani as these areas are Nepali territory as evidenced by Article 5 of Sugauli Treat concluded between Nepal and British India Company in 1816 and the maps published in that and other historical facts and documents. The Indian officer has been urged to not create hurdles against the mobility of the Nepalis in the areas.

Earlier, on July 14, India's Dharchula district administration had written to Darchula district administration urging to stop entry of Nepalis and provide information on any entry of Nepalis in the areas including Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as some Nepalis were 'stealthily and illegally' entering the  area. The letter read that attempts to illegally cross the border and do activities in 'Indian land of Gunji, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhuara' were to draw media attention on it and create problems for both the countries.

 No Nepali has been allowed to enter the encroached Nepali territory for the last few years and now with the issue of border encroachment getting momentum, India has taken more stringent measures to prevent entry of the Nepalis in the encroached Nepali territory.

Last Month, a team of security personnel from Border Out Post (BOP) of Armed Police Force situated at Chhangru, Byas Rural Municipality-1 in Darchula district was sent back some one and a half kilometers away from Kalapani by the Indian Sashastra Seema Bal citing orders from above.