Birgunj-Raxaul border opened for an hour

BIRGUNJ, Jan 30: The supply of goods through Nepal-India border checkpoint at Raxaul that had resumed for an hour on Friday morning was halted again.

It was the first time that the cargo vehicles had entered Nepal via the Birgunj-Raxaul border after the 129 days of blockage by Madhesi protesters.


Five cargo vehicles were allowed to enter Birgunj through the Raxaul-based customs office following checks for an hour between 8 am to 9 am on Friday.

The trucks loaded with electric appliances, hardware and other machinery items are now in the yard of Birgunj Customs Office.

Seven empty Indian trucks also crossed the border into Raxual, India from Birgunj, police sub-inspector Rupesh Jha informed.

The local transporters managed to sneak in their vehicles taking advantage of the absence of the protesters at the Nepal-India Friendship Bridge on the Nepal-India border. As soon as the local cadres of agitating Madhes-based parties learned about the entry of vehicles, they obstructed the transit point again.

"Last night, around 40 of us had slept on the bridge. It was very cold. Many of us left before the sunrise," said Satya Narayan Kurmi, president of Tarai Madhes Kisan Sangh, Parsa. The trucks managed to enter as there were only four demonstrators on the bridge."

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