A Nepali national was arrested in East Sikkim on Saturday for illegally entering a protected area and carrying forged Indian identity documents, raising security concerns along the Indo-Nepal border.
The accused, Rajesh Biswakarma, a resident of Mechinagar in Nepal’s Jhapa district, was apprehended in Rumtek, a designated Protected Area. Officials said Biswakarma had entered the area without a valid Inner Line Permit (ILP), which is mandatory for foreigners in such zones. During the arrest, authorities recovered multiple forged Indian identification cards under the alias “Sanu Pradhan”, but his true identity was confirmed through his Nepal National ID.
A case has been registered under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The police are investigating the source of the forged documents and the motive behind his entry into the restricted area.
Officials noted that the arrest coincides with a period of heightened unrest in Nepal, including recent jailbreaks and protests led by the country’s Gen Z movement. “The development underscores the need for heightened vigilance along border regions and in Protected Areas,” a senior security officer said.
Rumtek, being a Protected Area, is strictly regulated, and entry is permitted only to those holding valid ILPs issued by competent authorities. Security agencies have stepped up surveillance and checks in the region to prevent similar incidents and ensure border safety.