Had the incident, which took place at Gauriphanta, been an isolated case, we could have brushed it aside as a ‘mistake’ committed by a few overzealous SSB personnel. However, since there is a pattern to the activities of the Indian paramilitary force, it’s quite worrying for Nepal. Recently, there was quite a ruckus over the alleged atrocities and encroachment of Nepali land by SSB along the Nepal-India border in Dang district forcing a few thousand people to flee the border districts. An internal report prepared by the Home Ministry after a field visit to Dang had concluded that the report of border encroachment by Indian authorities was fabricated. However, another team of parliamentarians, following a four-day visit to the district, had opined that SSB was indeed involved in committing atrocities and encroaching Nepali territory in the district.
Though Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, during a visit to Nepal in June, termed that most of the news in the Nepali media over the encroachment of border land by SSB were blown out of proportion (and he might be right), he will certainly agree that things are not all hunky-dory at the borders. There certainly cannot be smoke without fire. India, which misses no opportunity to shout from the rooftops when its borders are allegedly encroached by China, must not display double standards by infringing its smaller neighbor’s territory.
Besides, India must also train the SSB along our borders to behave better. Recently, there were reports that SSB allegedly tortured a 35-year-old Nepali man, Mukul Raya Yadav, from Rautahat to death. It does not help India’s image when stories of SSB´s excesses – they have even been charged of raping Nepali women – keep on being reported in the media. India must respect Nepal’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and not allow such incidents to mar the otherwise friendly relationship shared by the two countries.
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