India has tightened security measures at four major border points after briefly stopping Nepal-bound trucks at Birgunj earlier this week, setting off rumors of an imminent blockade. On Thursday, citing increased violence on the Nepali side of the border, Indian authorities started holding up freight movement at Bhairahawa, Raxaul, Biratnagar, and Kakarvitta. The Indian Sashastra Seema Bal personnel stationed at the border stopped both passenger and goods carriers on the Indian side. The movement of cargo trucks to Nepal has been affected after they were subjected to stringent security checks. However, the Indian authorities have allowed motorcycles to cross the border unhindered. Only four vehicles entered Nepal from Sunauli as of 2 pm on Thursday.

Normally, 300-400 loaded trucks pass the point daily. Lawanya Kumar Dhakal, chief of the Bhairahawa Customs Office, said revenue collection dropped to near zero on Thursday. According to him, seven of the 10 tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas that was scheduled to arrive in Nepal on Wednesday are still stranded in India. An Indian security official said the reason for tightening the border and conducting stringent security checks was to ensure that explosives and weapons did not pass into Nepal due to the violent activities taking place there. “That is why security has been beefed up as per the order from the higher authority,” the officer said. The Indian border security force has stopped 200 Nepal-bound trucks from crossing the border at Kakarvitta in Jhapa since Wednesday afternoon, according to local entrepreneurs. “Not a single truck has been allowed to pass,” said Raju Maharjan, a local businessman. “We are being hassled for no reason.” Traders said trucks carrying clinker, petroleum products, coal, marble, and vegetables, among other products, have been barred from entering Nepal. All the trucks have been stopped at the Panitanki customs in India. Traders said the Indian security force had refused to clear their trucks saying that it was an order from New Delhi.

On Monday, 23 tankers belonging to Nepal Oil Corporation were stopped for 24 hours in Raxaul across the border from Birgunj, the main transit point for Nepal-India trade. They were allowed to enter Nepal on Tuesday evening. Trucks bound for Nepal were asked to produce more papers than usual by Indian officials. Though Indian authorities claim that they have not imposed restrictions, importers said they had been facing hassles during customs clearance. Indian authorities reportedly restricted goods being imported from Rupaidiha, leaving around 150 loaded trucks stranded on the Indian side. Indian customs officials did not permit the loaded trucks to enter Nepal citing orders from the higher authority. With the obstruction, 14 bullets of cooking gas, 27 tankers of diesel, and 2 tankers of petrol could not enter the country. Akram Khan, a truck driver dispatching goods imported from Nanpara, India, said Indian officials denied clearance for the laden trucks.

Meanwhile, customs agents also complained of their inability to import goods after Indian customs declined to clear them. Along with petroleum, a number of imported essential goods and industrial raw materials were stuck on the border due to the obstruction. Banke Chief District Officer Bed Prakash Lekhak said only 16 trucks of imported goods made their way through the border on Thursday.

Meanwhile, cadres of Samyukta Loktantrik Morcha and Sanghiya Samavesi Morcha held a sit-in at Miteri Bridge on the Birgunj-Raxaul border, which has further obstructed the movement of imported goods. The protest was launched just a day after Madhes-based political parties announced that they would block major customs points and shut down government offices, financial institutions, and highways. (With inputs from Parbat Portel in Kakadvitta, Madhav Dhungana in Bhairahawa, Bhusan Yadav in Birgunj and Thakur Singh Tharu in Rupaidiha, India)