Nepal asks India to probe shooting of four Nepalese by SSB

Kathmandu: Nepal on Thursday demanded an early probe into the alleged shooting of four of its unarmed civilians by India's Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel, seeking strong action against those involved in the incident and restrain from such actions in future.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement here said, the matter has been brought to the attention of India through its Embassy here expressing grave concern over the entry of the SSB personnel into the Nepalese territory and using firearms against unarmed Nepalese civilians.

Nepal asked India for an early investigation into the incident and strong action against those involved and urged it to check such actions in future.

The ministry also requested India to share the findings of the investigation.

"While urging the Indian authorities to check such actions in future, the Ministry has requested for an early investigation into the incident and strong action against those involved," the statement said.

Nepal alleged that the SSB personnel entered 100 metres inside Nepalese territory in Sunsari district, which lies on the Nepal-India border, and fired at the four unarmed Nepalese nationals while chasing a group of chemical fertiliser smugglers yesterday.

The injured had said they were burning wood in the border village to keep themselves warm, when the firing occurred.

The Indian embassy here, however, said that the border guards fired at the smugglers in self-defence inside Indian territory.

India had yesterday hit out at Nepal for "shifting" blame of atrocities inside its "volatile" Sunsari district to the SSB.

"Armed Police Force, Nepal is trying to shift blame for its atrocities inside the volatile and affected Sunsari district to SSB and India. SSB continues to facilitate while also maintaining order and security at the border," an official source had said in New Delhi.

Relations between India an Nepal have nosedived in recent months as Indian-origin Madhesis protesting against the new Constitution have blocked key border trade points with India, causing severe shortages of fuel and other essentials in the country.