KATHMANDU, May 12: The Nepal government is soon establishing an Armed Police Force border outpost (BoP) near Kalapani, a Nepali territory that has been occupied by India for several decades.
Speaking at the International Relations Committee under the House of Representatives, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said that the BOP is being set up at Chhangru of Byas Rural Municipality. "A squadron of Armed Police Force (APF) will be permanently stationed at Chhangru area, near Kalapani, in a day or two, and a battalion of the APF will be stationed there gradually," the foreign minister said.
Recalling Pushpa Lal
FM Gyawali admitted that the government had failed to safeguard the Nepali territories in the western frontier with India because it could not keep its presence there for a long time. "It is very unfortunate that Nepal could not make its presence in Kalapani for several years," he said.
The government's decision comes a week after India inaugurated a strategic road to Manasarovar of China via Lipulekh, a Nepali territory. Lipulekh is located near Kalapani, a far western frontier of Nepal with India. Indian paramilitary forces have been stationed at Kalapani, a Nepali territory, for several decades. The Indian government has ignored Nepal's call to remove the military forces, claiming Kalapani as its territory.
The APF headquarters said that a squadron of 35 APF personnel under the command of an APF Inspector will be stationed in Chhangru area. "We are making preparations to deploy a team soon with logistics," Prabin Kumar Shrestha, spokesperson for the APF, said.
Earlier, Nepal Police had stationed two units at Chhayalek of Tinkar and at Sitapul of Chhangru before it was shifted to Dumling of Byas Rural Municipality.
