SSB campaign along Indo-Nepal border to check dual citizenship amongst residents

SSB campaign along Indo-Nepal border to check dual citizenship amongst residents

B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, Oct 24

Several people living in the border villages on Indo- Nepal border districts of Pithoragarh and Champawat of Uttarakhand have dual citizenship of India and Nepal. “Some of them take part in political activities in both the countries’, said D.N. Bhombe , DIG of Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Almora region of the force.

“We have found several such instances in Jhoolaghat area of Pithoragarh and some in Champawat region at Indo- Nepal border, and have reported it to concerned district administrations,” said the SSB DIG.

He further said that the SSB personnel deputed in all 54 border out posts falling  in Uttarakhand are working to identify such persons who have dual citizenship of India and Nepal and living inside Indian territory.” We are doing it with the help of concerned district administrations,” said the SSB officer.

Pithoragarh Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Anil Kumar Shukla said that there are two categories of Nepalese living inside India. First the girls from Nepal, who have married into India and have not left Nepalese citizen but living permanently in India without getting Indian citizenship, and second are those families which settled into Indian territory without having Indian citizenship.” We have found several cases in which Nepalese have fraudulently obtained Aadhar cards and voter ID. We cancelled the documents immediately,” said the SDM.

“We are giving priority to stop human trafficking and smuggling of wildlife organs besides the drugs and for that we have formed special teams,” said  the DIG.

SSB is the para military force, assigned to guard 1740 km long  Indo-Nepal border including 254 km long border alone in Uttarakhand state.

The SSB officer said that his personnel keep a vigilant eye on outsiders at border villages by keeping close contact with Indian villagers residing at border.” During such interactions with villagers we came across such information given by villagers,” said the officer.

The SSB officer said that several Nepalese citizens living inside Indian villages have also made Aadhar cards despite being Nepalese citizens.”It  could pose a big threat to national security if not checked in time,” said the officer.