The Nepal Police released a patrol party of 13 Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawans who were detained early on Sunday morning along the Indo-Nepal border near the Kishanganj district.
"An entire patrol party of 13 SSB personnel was detained by the Nepalese border guarding force," SSB Director General BD Sharma told PTI.
The Armed Police Force (APF) detained the SSB personnel at around 7 am when they crossed the border while chasing diesel smugglers, according to media reports.
ANI said the SSB jawans were detained by villagers who then handed them over to the Nepal Police.
FLASH: All 13 SSB jawans who were detained by Nepal police along the India-Nepal border, released.
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 29, 2015
UPDATE: Total 13 SSB jawans detained by Nepal Police: Deepak Kumar SSB IG (Operations) to ANI
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 29, 2015
The incident took place amid prevailing tensions between the two nations over a trade blockade imposed by the Madhesi people of Nepal. The Madhesis have imposed blockade on trade from India in protest against the new constitution of the Himalayan nation.
Nepal has blamed India for the blockade, claiming it is supporting the Madhesis — a disadvantaged group in Nepal that is ethnically, linguistically and culturally linked to the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier on Sunday, reports came that Nepal had blocked telecast of all Indian news channels.
