Indian lawmakers barred to visit refugee camps

Sasastra Sima Bal (Armed Border Force) known as SSB of India has barred a delegation of Indian lawmakers from entering into Nepal to visit Bhutanese refugee camps.

Converner of Bhutan Solidarity and Indo-Bhutan friendship society Mohan Tamang, who is coordinating the event, informed that the SSB forces have stopped the delegation comprising Debrata Biswas, general secretary of Forward Bloc who arrived at Bagdogra airport via Indian Airlines at 11:35 am. Forward Bloc is part of the ruling UPA government in India .

Tamang further quoted the officials at Indian local authorities as saying that the delegation was stopped at Panitanki, Indo-Nepal border, in accordance with Article 144. 

Tamang informed that the delegation was scheduled to visit Beldangi camp in Jhapa today at around 2 pm. 

Meanwhile, Vice-President of Bhutan People's Party Jagirman Lama informed that hundreds of refugees are at queue in Birtamode-Kakarvitta road section to welcome the Indian lawmakers to camps. 

Indian parliamentarian Biswas has been plying important role in mobilizing other parliamentarians in Delhi to accelerate the repatriation process of refugees .

Meanwhile, Tamang further informed that the delegation is holding a press conference at the Sangam Restaurant near Panitanki citing SSB's denial to allow them to enter Nepal.