KATHMANDU : Minister for Home Affairs, Ram Bahadur Thapa, inaugurated the Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal’s Number 50 Company at Gaga of Chhangru in Byas rural municipality in the district today.
The Home Minister arrived there by helicopter to inaugurate the APF company camp set up near the disputed Kalapani area. The government had established the APF barracks at Byas after India inaugurated a road linking China via Nepali territory which it had constructed unilaterally.
Before this, a border outpost had been set up here on May 13 for guarding Nepali land. This outpost has now been upgraded to a company. The APF Company had been set up at Chhangru as per the decision of the Council of Ministers on July 12. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dhirendra Shah leads the company.
The government has already issued a new political and administrative map including the Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura areas encroached by India, causing an increase in security presence in the Byas area. The government is also preparing to set up border outposts in Tinkar and Kauwa.
The Home Minister was accompanied by APF Inspector General Shailendra Khanal, Home Secretary Maheshwor Neupane, lawmaker from Darchula, Ganesh Singh Thagunna, and political advisor of the Home Minister, Surya Subedi, security advisor Indrajeet Rai, Brigadier General of Nepali Army Pawan Raj Ghimire and APF Additional Inspector General Ram Sharan Poudel, among other officials.
The Home Minister’s entourage will stay in Byas today, Chief District Officer of Darchula Sharad Kumar Pokharel, said. He will return to Kathmandu only on Saturday after the entire team has inspected Kauwa, Tinkar and the other areas there. Home Minister Thapa will also lay the foundation stone for an APF building that will be constructed in Gaga. A contract valued at Rs 100 million has already been signed for the construction of the building.
