The Nepal government dispatched a diplomatic note to India last week days after a probe panel pointed figures at Indian border personnel in an incident of a missing Nepali youth, Nepali media reports said. Officially, the government has not confirmed the development. 

On 30 July, a Nepali man had gone missing while crossing the Mahakali river near the Nepal-India border using a cable. Later, a probe team constituted by the Nepali government alleged that personnel of Indian border forces had cut the cable and the man fell into the river and was swept away by the strong current. The report cited the eyewitnesses, confirming the incident. 

Locals, meanwhile, protested against the government, demanding the latter to take up the incident diplomatically with the Indian government. However, the report of the incident took almost a month to complete which further fuelled anger among people. 

The note was dispatched to the External Affairs Ministry of India through the Indian Embassy  in Kathmandu, a report in The Kathmandu Post confirmed, citing sources in Nepal’s Prime Minister Office. 

The report claimed that the Nepal government, in the note, cited the probe team’s findings and said that the incident occurred "in the presence of the Sashastra Seema Bal" (India’s border security force). 

Last week, hundreds of people protested in Kathmandu, burning an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and raised slogans against India. Later, the Home Ministry issued directives, advising protestors not to be involved in activities that could damage relations with friendly neighboring countries. 

The probe team took almost a month to submit the report and the delay, meanwhile, gave an impression among the public that the Deuba government isn’t serious enough to take a tough instance against its southern neighbor to safeguard national interests, according to media reports. 

Last week on Friday, during a regular press conference, Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, said that India was not aware of any official communication from the Nepal government.

“We have heard about the incident through some media, but no official information has been shared with us yet,” Bagchi said on 2 September. 
 
(SAM)