India has occupied Nepalese land by building a fake river in Kalapani. The problem is compounded by diplomatic silence.
What you should know
When it was announced that China and India have decided to make Lipulek in Nepali land Darchula a commercial 'pass', it has been strongly opposed by Nepal's political parties and civil society.
India has been ignoring the dispute that started when the Indian army started living in Nepali land Kalapani since 1962. The Sugauli Treaty was concluded on March 4, 1816, ending the war between Nepal and the British. According to the said treaty, the western border between Nepal and India was maintained at Kalinadi. According to the treaty, the territory west of Kali's head Limpiyadhura belongs to India, while Kalapani and Lipulek to the east are Nepalese territory.
29 years ago today, journalist Narayan Wagh of Kantipur went to the 'field' and reported on the news of Kalapani area, it is mentioned that India occupied the territory of Nepal by building a fake river. In the news, it was mentioned that there was an easy way to go to Tibet from Lipulek, which belongs to Nepal.
According to the news published in Kantipur at that time, 15 concrete houses of Indian Border Police were built in Kalpani East. There, Indian soldiers, paramilitary and intelligence were providing security for twelve months. From there, the army coming from the Tibetan area could easily be seen. The territory of Nepal lies before the border between Nepal and India, but at that time a fake river was prepared by keeping Indian security forces in the Nepalese territory. Now, India has set up its military camp on the territory of Nepal, considering it as Kalinadi.
As mentioned in the news at that time, a culvert was built in front of the gate of the Indian military camp. A pond was also constructed as the source of the well-built well. India has been making a strange argument that the same small lake that it made by collecting the water that has flowed at the foot of the mountain is the source of Kalinadi. His claim still stands. As said in the news, it has been clearly seen that India has occupied the Nepali territory by building a fake canal. India calls the river Lipukhola, which flows several times larger than fake Kali. ![[Archive] That news from Kantipur that India has built a fake canal in Darchula...](https://assets-cdn.kantipurdaily.com/uploads/source/news/kantipur/2025/miscellaneous/kala-4-2382025112211-1000x0.jpg)
India established a Shiva-Parvati temple in the mountains in front of the lake. Beautiful carpets were laid on the mechs placed in the courtyard of the temple . Bells were hung on both sides of the lake and the castle. The priest of the temple was an Indian soldier . The source of Kalinadi is Kalapani Lipulek. Khanti is 10 km north of Kalapani military camp. Locals said that there is an old Shiva-Parvati temple there. Behind the temple of Shiva is Ajang's Om Parvat . Locals said, 'When it snows, the mountain looks like om.'
According to Jit Bahadur Bohra, a local and former Pradhanpanch of Changru, behind the artificially made temple, Om has been carved into the stone. Which is artificial. Bohra, who is also the head of Vyas Village Panchayat (after 2046 Village Development Committee), had told Kantipur that they would not budge if the pond and temple were faked. A week before the news was published, the Indian army showed a fake spring to the correspondent who reached Kalapani saying that this is the source of the black. The Indian security personnel told the reporter, "Khas Kalinadi is east-south from there". That is Khare . There is not even a drop of water.' Indian soldiers advanced saying that we have established the border river with sympathy for Nepal (showing the fake).
After the Indian military camp was established in 1962, there was a problem for Nepalese to go to Tibet. At that time, the locals said that Nepal could not show its diplomatic ability. Fakirsingh Dhami, the then Acting Branch Officer of the Administration Office at Changru, informed that since the border office was established in 2034, the written information that India has encroached Nepalese territory has been submitted to the central government. According to him, even the Nepali officials who come to the border meeting, even if they see the Indian army in the Nepalese territory, ignore it and return. The locals complained that the camp of the Indian army will always remain on the border but the post of the security personnel of Nepal will be moved one and a half days down the road.
At that time, Nepalese Changru and Tinkar residents going to Tibet after cutting the Kalapani Lipulek at an altitude of about 16,000 feet used to stop at the place where the Indo-Tibetan border gate was built. At the entrance of those going for Kailash pilgrimage and Taklakot business, it was written, 'Indian-Tibetan Border Police welcomes you.' Nepali people going to Kailash Mansarobar used to complain that they had to stop on their way. Nepalis were forced to cross 18,000 feet to go to Tibet.
47-year-old Phadtaru of Changru told Kantipur that he remembers going to trade in Tibet from Kalapani Lipulek when he was young. He said at that time, "Lipulek taken by India is an easy way to go to Tibet." He complained that they were going to Tibet through Tinkar Bhanyang Lipulek, which is 2000 feet higher than Kalapani Lipulek.
A search story was published in Kantipur on 29 October 2053, including how Kalapani and Lipulek are being occupied by India. The reference contained in the news headlined 'Indian Border Police Camp at Kalapani: Construction of Mahakali's artificial estuary by India' has now resurfaced. According to many leaders of the diplomatic field, this situation would not have happened if India had protested and made diplomatic efforts at the time when India kept the army on the border.
presentation: Rishiram Paudyal
![[Archive] That news from Kantipur that India has built a fake canal in Darchula...](https://assets-cdn-api.ekantipur.com/thumb.php?src=https://assets-cdn.ekantipur.com/uploads/source/news/kantipur/2025/miscellaneous/map-1-2182025023537-1000x01-2382025112300-1000x0.jpg&w=1001&h=0)