Siliguri, July 31 -- Smuggling along the open Indo-Nepal border has emerged as a growing concern, with the illegal movement of fertilisers from India into Nepal creating an artificial shortage in parts of North Bengal and forcing farmers to pay higher prices.
Unlike the fenced Indo-Bangladesh border, the Indo-Nepal frontier remains open, with the Mechi River forming the natural boundary between the two countries across parts of Darjeeling district.
The absence of fencing has allegedly enabled smugglers to move consignments across the border while evading the surveillance of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
While the cross-border movement of areca nuts and a few essential commodities has long been reported, the recent surge in fertiliser sm...