Aagya Khabar
Dhanusha, Nepal
Tensions have once again flared along the Nepal–India border. On Wednesday morning, a clash broke out between the Indian border security force (SSB) and a group of cross-border smugglers near Mahinathpur in Dhanusha, close to the India–Nepal frontier. The clash left two SSB personnel and one Nepali citizen injured.
The incident occurred in the ‘No Man’s Land’ area near an Indian border village. According to Indian media reports, the smuggler group had already managed to smuggle food items into Nepal twice. The third attempt was intercepted by the SSB, resulting in a confrontation.
Reports indicate that shots were fired during the clash. In an attempt to bring the situation under control, the SSB is said to have fired five rounds into the air. During the skirmish, 22-year-old SSB jawan Raj Goud was shot in the left leg, while 28-year-old Rajkumar Ram sustained injuries from being hit by stones. Both are currently undergoing treatment at Darbhanga Medical College Hospital.
According to local sources, Bharat Paswan, son of Mahendra Paswan from Mahottari Rural Municipality–1 in Dhanusha, allegedly tried to snatch a rifle from an SSB soldier during the clash. In the process, he was shot in the waist and is currently being treated at a private hospital in Darbhanga.
Confirming the incident, Indian news outlet Dainik Jagran reported that clashes with smugglers have increased following stricter border surveillance by Indian authorities. However, no detailed statement has been issued by Nepali security officials. Nepali police sources have also stated they have not been able to verify claims that bullets hit the soldier.
Locals say the Mahinathpur area is a sensitive smuggling hotspot, where daily consumer goods are often brought into Nepal via illegal routes. This time, the heightened vigilance of the SSB appears to have led to increased tensions.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing insecurity along the Nepal–India border. There is a rising call for stronger bilateral coordination and a more serious crackdown on cross-border smuggling by both countries’ security agencies.
