Indian traders have also warned of not letting goods imported from third-country to enter Nepali territory, if Nepal government fails to reverse its decision.[break]
Nepali businessmen are major clients in Jogbani.
Everyday transactions worth tens of millions of rupees take place on the Indian market because of these entrepreneurs. But after the Nepali government strictly enforced Finance Ministry´s directive to slap taxes on goods worth more than Rs 100, business has petered out, as most of the entrepreneurs used to import goods without declaring customs.
“We were forced to launch the protest as Nepalis stopped visiting our market because of Nepali policemen´s excess,” Ramesh Sharma, an Indian businessman, told Republica.
Sunday´s meeting of Revenue Inspection Committee had decided to control illegal cross-border trading activities, especially during Dashain festival when imports of goods rise significantly.
Since then police have confiscated goods like apparel, oil, sugar, spices and salt worth hundreds of thousands of rupees that were illegally brought into country.
Pradhyumna Kumar Karki, inspector at Morang District Police, told Republica that his team was only following the government instruction.
“Our intention is not to harass people,” he said. Karki also informed that he would not compromise with anyone on the matter that was benefiting Nepali economy.
Krishna Neupane, acting chief of Morang Customs Office, also informed that his office was acting as per the circular issued by the Finance Ministry. “We have not discriminated anyone in this process,” he said.
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