The locals have started a hunger strike after facing problems while traveling through Gaur for medical treatment, weddings, and other work due to the closure of the Rampurkhap customs checkpoint.
What you should know
Locals have begun a hunger strike in the border area demanding the opening of a small customs post in Rampurkhap, Paroha Municipality-9, Rautahat. The customs post has been closed since the armed conflict. The Indian city of Ghodasan lies beyond the customs post.
The locals have formed a struggle committee and started a hunger strike from Sunday, saying that it was difficult for locals to cross the border when the customs checkpoint in Rampurkhap area was closed and that they were forced to go through the district headquarters Gaur when they were sick or married.
The locals are angry after security personnel stopped even an ambulance carrying a patient from passing through. Congress leader Anju Jha said that the locals had to face a lot of problems when the customs checkpoint was closed. Leader Jha, who was sitting at the hunger strike site, said that although the checkpoint was made easier to some extent after Covid, it was later closed.
‘We have a strong relationship with India across the border. Patients are taken across for treatment,’ she said. ‘We protested after ambulances were also stopped. Now the hunger strike will continue until the problem is resolved.’
The locals say that they are protesting against the intention of the security personnel to allow smugglers to cross the area overnight and to cause suffering to the general public. They have been on a hunger strike for three days by setting up a tent near Dashgaja.
The locals had also demonstrated by burning tires in front of the Armed Police Force base camp two days ago. A team including the District Police Chief, the Armed Police Force Commander, and the Deputy Director of National Investigation reached the hunger strike site on Monday evening and tried to convince the locals. But the hunger strikers did not agree.
Rampurkhap-based Armed Police Inspector Mandira Suwal said that she has been supporting the locals by looking at the practical aspects. “We need instructions from above to open the border,” she said, “It is not possible with our initiative. I have discussed everything with the local people’s representatives.” She denied the accusation of being a smuggler. “This is a completely false accusation,” she added.
Locals say that if the small customs office comes into operation, trade in the Nepal-India border area will expand, marketing of local products will be promoted, employment will be created, and economic activity will be strengthened.
Currently, the local administration has banned four-wheeler movement between Nepal and India through the small customs offices except Gaur. Last year, after locals protested, four-wheelers were allowed to cross the border. It has been completely closed since Covid.
The small customs office in Rampurkhap was removed during the People's War. The wooden building here has been demolished. Now, security personnel have built small huts and are checking the border checkpoints.
