New Delhi: Traders in Uttarkhand’s Pithoragarh blocked the India-Nepal suspension bridge for two hours to protest against stone pelting from Nepal on workers building a wall along the Kali river on the Indian side. Speaking on the matter Jt Magistrate said that the Nepal administration has been asked to take action against the stone pelters.
"We have told the Nepal administration to take action against stone pelters. If they believe in false rumours then we'll try to clarify them by meeting them," Jt. Magistrate told ANI about the trade union closing the India-Nepal suspension bridge in protest against the stone pelters from Nepal.
The Nepalese people living near the border have been opposing the construction of the wall along the Kali river as they fear it will cause floods in their area.
"We are protesting against the lathi-charge that our locals and traders have been subjected to by the Nepal govt and representatives. We've closed the bridge here. If action is not taken within 3 days by the administration, we will sit on hunger strike here and continue our protest," said B Thapa, Pres, Board of Trade, as quoted by ANI.
The incident occurred during the construction of an embankment wall on river Kali on the Indian side, according to the officials. The river acts as the border between Nepal and India.
One of the workers was injured on Sunday as local people hurled stones from the other side of the river which falls in Nepal, Dharchula SDM Divesh Shasni said on Monday, news agency PTI reported. He said as the authorities in Darchula in the neighbouring country resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the mob hurling stones at the construction workers, an Indian trader, who was there on some personal work, was injured.
The bridge between India and Nepal was closed from 7 am to 9 am and the blockade was lifted only after assurances from the Nepalese authorities that action would be taken against those responsible within three days.
“The bridge was opened only after the chief district officer of Darchula (Nepal) contacted the Indian authorities and the SDM of Dharchula (India) and promised to take action against the stone pelters and the lathi charge on the Indian trader,” said Bhupendra Singh Thapa, president of the traders association of Dharchula.
Thapa warned of resuming the blockade if action is not taken as promised. “We have talked with the Nepalese authorities regarding the stone hurling incident and they have assured us to act against such elements who are polluting the atmosphere of cordiality between the two countries,” the Dharchula SDM said.
(With agencies’ Inputs)