Nepali migrant workers who have returned home to celebrate Dashain and Tihar festivals from India said they have been harassed by Indian security forces and customs authorities at Indian customs points.

 Nepali people who have returned home from Chennai in India claimed that the Indian customs and Indian security forces charged undue money in the border area.

 

“They charged IRs 100 per person,” said Krishna Joshi of Kedarnath in Doti district, adding that the security forces misbehaved if they resisted providing money. Nepali migrant workers rued that the tradition exists since the past several years. “I keep change every time while crossing the border,” Joshi said. Joshi has been working in India for the past 15 years. 

 

Another migrant worker Nande Bohara of Deuthal in Bajhang complained that they face several difficulties in customs while crossing the border area with belongings. “In the past, many Nepali migrant workers have been looted on the way,” said Bohara, accusing the Indian security forces of having been engaged in extortion at border points.

 

Some of them have even been brutally thrashed in the border areas. “Last year Indian security personnel manhandled me at the border point after I denied to provide money,” said Bohara.” This year I gave them money even before they asked,” he said. Hundreds of Nepali migrant workers return to their homes to celebrate Dashain and Tihar festivals from Dhangadi customs point each year. Though the administration has established help desks at the border points, complaints are hardly taken seriously. 

 

Sub-Inspector Jeevan Gurung said they have been trying to address the complaints of people. “We will negotiate with the Indian security forces and customs authorities immediately after registering complains,” he said.