India-Nepal border ‘peaceful’: West Bengal police

By IANS

Kolkata/Siliguri : The West Bengal police said there was no fresh attempt by Bhutanese refugees in Nepal to enter Indian territory Wednesday, a day after a Bhutanese boy was killed in firing by Indian security forces when the refugees tried to enter India.


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A 20-year-old student, Shah Bahadur Dewan, was killed when India's Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) fired to control the Bhutanese refugees at Panitanki, about 35 km from Siliguri, in Darjeeling district of north Bengal.

Panitanki, the only road link between the Indian state of West Bengal and Nepal, has been sealed.

West Bengal Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said there was no attempt by Bhutanese refugees to enter Indian side on Wednesday.

"The border is peaceful today (Wednesday)," Kanojia told IANS.

Indian and Nepalese officials met refugee leaders Wednesday morning at Panitanki and reports said the refugees were also pushed back to Nepal.

While the Bhutanese refugees suspended their protest march, curfew remained imposed in the area along the India-Nepal border up to the "zero point".

The meeting between Bhutanese refugee leaders and Indian officials Wednesday was successful, official sources said.

The Bhutanese refugee leaders demanded release of 15 refugees who were taken in police custody after Tuesday's skirmish at the border. All 15 were released later.

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