Sankhuwasabha, Aug 17: A joint team of the Armed Police Force (APF) at Kimathanka Border Outpost (BOP) and Chinese police carried out an inspection of border pillars along the Nepal–China border at Kimathanka checkpoint in northern Sankhuwasabha.
The joint team from APF Nepal No. 4 Arun Battalion Chainpur and the Chinese police inspected the border pillars located at Kimathanka in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality–1, which adjoins China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Baburam Paudel of APF, the team inspected five border pillars in the northern section of Bhotkhola–1.
The inspection was led by APF BOP Kimathanka in-charge Nabin Khatri, with a team of seven members, while the Chinese side was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Dawa Chiring with eight members. Four personnel from Nepal Police also participated. The joint security team inspected and observed border pillars numbered 66, 67, 68/2, 69/1, and 69/2, along with the overall condition of the border, DSP Paudel informed.
There are 21 border pillars along the Nepal–China border in Sankhuwasabha. It is reported that the international border pillars in Kimathanka are quite old. In Jestha (May/June) this year, floods washed away pillar number 71/1. The APF established its Border Security Post (BOP) at Kimathanka in 2019 (2076 BS).
The missing 71/1 pillar swept away by floods at Dongoppakhola and Chokangkhola in Bhotkhola–1 has still not been recovered. Bhotkhola wards 1, 2, and 3 share borders with China. Around 5,000 people reside in this area, many of whom cross over to Changabazaar in Tibet for daily wage labor to sustain their livelihoods.
The customs office was first established at Kimathanka in 1978 (2035 BS), but due to conflict and other reasons, it was relocated to the district headquarters Khadbari in 2000 (2057 BS). Kimathanka is located 162 kilometers from Khadbari, and the area still lacks road access. #nepal #bop #china #border
