Nepal unrest disrupts traffic at Bengal’s Panitanki border; trucks stranded

Darjeeling, Sep 9 (PTI) Political unrest in Nepal has led to a near-complete halt in movement across the international border at Panitanki in the northern part of West Bengal, leaving hundreds of trucks stranded on the Indian side, officials said on Tuesday.

Although there has been no official version, vehicle movement through the Panitanki border has stopped since Monday afternoon. Police have also set up checkpoints and begun vehicle checks from early morning.

Nepal reeled under a political crisis on Tuesday as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned in the face of massive anti-government protests, with the demonstrators attacking private residences of several high-profile leaders, the headquarters of political parties and even vandalising the parliament, a day after 19 people died in police action against the agitators.

“Several of our trucks ferry every day from Siliguri to Nepal. But the movement has come to a complete halt at the border,” a truck owner said in Siliguri.

The students-led protests appeared to reflect the growing public anger with the Oli dispensation over a range of issues including a ban on social media and inaction against alleged corruption as the protesters, defying curfews and heavy deployment of security forces, resorted to arson and stormed various key buildings and establishments.

In response, both the central and West Bengal governments have taken steps to tighten security at the border. Indian forces from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have increased patrols, while the Nepalese Army is on high alert on the other side, officials said.

Shops at Panitanki are shut, and strict checks are in place.

People can cross the border only after showing a valid ID. All vehicles are being searched, and police are collecting details of drivers and passengers. Dog squads have also been deployed for security.

More than 100 Indian truck drivers and many tourists are currently stuck at the border due to the disruption.

Senior officials of Darjeeling Police visited the border on Tuesday to review the situation.

“There is no unrest on our side, but we are on high alert. We are in touch with central agencies and the SSB,” police officials said.

With no clear end to the unrest in Nepal, the Panitanki border remains tense, and cross-border movement continues to be heavily restricted. PTI PNT NN