Two Nepali youths who were in the custody of Chinese security personnel on charges of flying a drone across the border in the Nepal-China border area of ​​Lapchi were released on Friday.

Chinese security personnel and immigration representatives handed them over to Tatopani Immigration Office Chief Padmaraj Timalsina and Armed Police Force Border Security Post (BOP) Tatopani Police Inspector Lilaram Phunjel and other administration representatives at Miteri Bridge on Friday.

According to Immigration Office Chief Timalsina, the Chinese side handed over the two youths to the Nepali side after completing the necessary legal procedures. 'It was said that they would be released on Thursday itself. Since the procedures are yet to be completed, they were handed over on Friday. Now, after completing the necessary procedures, they will be handed over to their families,' he said.

According to him, the families of the youths had already been contacted. After the Nepali side requested their release through a formal letter, the Chinese side released them after completing the interrogation and legal procedures. 'The Chinese side had suspected that the activities in Chinese territory were being filmed through drones under someone's instructions. We had done the necessary coordination and correspondence regarding that,' Timalsina said.

Manoj Prajapati of Kathmandu and 17-year-old Sudip Thapa Magar of Bhaktapur had flown a drone from the border area while they were visiting Lapchi. Police said that Chinese security personnel took them into custody after the drone entered Chinese territory. After being taken into custody, they were kept in China's Nyalam County. 'The condition of both youths is normal and safe,' Timalsina said.