Birtamode, Jun 16: A clash broke out between Indian smugglers and the Armed Police Force of Nepal in between 133 and 134 Nepal-India border pillars at Belautibari area in Ward 4 of Jhapa Gaunpalika on Monday night.

At around 9 pm on Monday, the Armed Police Force (APF) deployed in Belautibari post tried to get hold of Indian smugglers bringing illegal goods carrying on their heads.

However, the group left the smuggled goods and fled towards India when the APF tried to arrest them with the goods.

But minutes later, the smugglers came back with a group of around 30 to 40 individuals and started behaving indecently with the officers of APF.

The group even took an officer towards the Indian side of the border forcefully. The officer was rescued immediately with the help of locals.

With the locals coming for assistance, the group of Indian smugglers dispersed and fled.

“The locals assisted the team deployed in the area. When we reached with additional support, the clash was totally under control and nothing serious happened,” said Inspector Sachin Pradhan of APF’s Taghandubba Border Outpost.

After the incident, the APF collaborated with Nepal Police and Sashastra Seema Bal of India and searched further for smuggled goods.

During the search, the authorities found electric motors, motor parts, oil, and tobacco in maize, rice, and banana fields in the area. The confiscated goods were worth around Rs 450,000.

The confiscated goods have been handed over to the customs office.

In a similar incident in the area between Indians, who were trying to cross the border forcefully, and Nepal authorities, the Nepali side had to fire two rounds.