In a tragic incident, an Armed Police Force (APF) Sub-Inspector Laxman Yadav was run over and killed by a vehicle in Chhotki Toli Kachanari, Bariyarpatti Rural Municipality-1, Siraha in the wee hours on Sunday as he tried to stop smuggling of alcohol across the border. Acting on a special tip-off, Sub-Inspector Yadav and other security personnel had reached there to prevent the smuggling across the Indian border to Jhalon. When Yadav attempted to stop the vehicle, the Scorpio jeep filled with smuggled liquor ran over him and sped towards the Indian border at high speed. Severely injured SI Yadav was immediately rushed to the Ram Kumar Sharda Uma Prasad Murarka Provincial Hospital in Lahan for treatment at around 3 AM, where doctors pronounced him dead. Following his death, his wife Sangita Devi and their two daughters have been left in the lurch. Yadav was the sole breadwinner of the family. Their daughters, Sushmita and Sujata, are currently studying in Kathmandu, in grades 11 and 12, respectively. It is concerning to note that a security officer was murdered in the line of duty—by smugglers. This tragic incident highlights the growing smuggling network along the bordering areas and the audacity of criminal gangs operating with impunity. The smugglers' high morale shown by their act of murdering police officials on duty reflects the deteriorating security situation. This incident also shows how powerful smuggling rackets have emerged, particularly in areas near the Indian border. The government must act tough to bust these criminal rackets and ensure an effective law and order situation in the bordering region.
Reports suggest that alcohol smuggling is rampant not only in Kachanari but also in Thadi, Abhaynagar, Bariyarpatti, Nargi, Janakinagar, Madar, Ladigoth, Budhaura and Jhajpatti checkpoints in Siraha district. Since alcohol is prohibited in India, it is often smuggled across the border from Nepal. Despite sustained efforts, security personnel have been unable to curb this illicit trade. Locals allege that high-ranking security officials tacitly support smuggling except for a few isolated incidents where action has been taken against such groups. Busting such smuggling rackets is critical for ensuring law and order situation as such activities fuel corruption and insecurity in these regions. The APF personnel have been deployed along the Nepal-India border to curb the smuggling and other illicit activities. However, inadequate arms and ammunition, training, accommodation and manpower have hindered their effectiveness to curb these activities. Smugglers, emboldened by these weaknesses, do not even hesitate to take the lives of security personnel who come in their way. This particular incident shows the urgent need for security agencies to reassess their strategies. Normally, smugglers, whether from Nepal or India, tend to work smarter than the security forces. This tragedy underscores gaps in terms of preparedness to contain such elements. Adequate number of security personnel, better coordination and the authority to use firepower to neutralize threats—such as vehicles fleeing at high speed—could have prevented this tragic incident.
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The failure of security agencies to act decisively despite receiving prior intelligence about the smuggling operation is a matter of serious concern. Of course, this is not the first time smugglers have attacked or killed law enforcement officers. However, the government agencies concerned do not seem to have taken lessons from past incidents and acted accordingly. Failures and shortcomings are inevitable, but failure to learn from these shortcomings invites even greater tragedies. It is crucial for security agencies to draw lessons from this incident and take necessary measures to bust the smuggling network. Additionally, coordination with Indian security agencies is vital to dismantling the organized smuggling networks operating along the Nepal-India border. As the family members of slain SI Yadav are left in the lurch, the government must ensure proper support and compensation for his dependents. The ultimate sacrifice of slain Yadav in the line of duty must not be forgotten and lessons must be drawn to take effective measures to curb cross-border crimes.
