Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh): In order to help the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) keep a close watch on the Indo-Nepal border amid heightened tensions between the two neighbours, villagers from Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit district built a temporary bridge over the Sutiya river.
Earlier on July 5, after the Pilibhit district administration received information that Nepal was constructing a build on the no man's land between pillars 38, and 39, it got the construction halted.
However, even though the construction was halted, the material is being transported to the site on trucks even now. Further, many Nepali residents have reportedly illegally occupied plots on the no man's land area and even erected solid structures.
Due to a rise in water levels in the Sutiya river, it was not possible for the SSB troops to keep a close watch on activities along the Indo-Nepal border and no man's land.
Hence on the request of Ajay Kumar, Commandant of the SSB'S 49 Battalion, Gurudev Singh, the head of the Bamanpur Bhagirath panchayat, decided to build a temporary bamboo bridge across the river.
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"Our pillar is on the other side of the river. Nepalis used to damage the posts. Hence, when the SSB requested, we made the bridge to aid the movement of our troops," said Mukhtiyar Singh, a villager.
"The village head got us to pool in money, using which we constructed the bridge," another villager Man Singh said.
Meanwhile, the SSB troops praised the generosity of the villagers and their dedication towards the nation as they built a bridge only for them to ensure tight surveillance in the border areas.
"The bridge was made only due to the villagers' efforts. Now, we can easily go towards our pillar on the border and report on the activities going on in the no man's land area. During the rainy season, it used to be very difficult to cross the river," an SSB trooper said.
"They have stopped construction of the road now, we are constantly giving reports," he added.
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