Lipulekh border dispute: Locals accuse state of neglecting territory

Darchula: Citizens of Darchula have expressed disappointment and frustration after India and China reached an agreement to open a bilateral trade route through the Lipulekh pass, a Nepali territory located in Byas Rural Municipality-1.

Locals say the state has repeatedly failed to safeguard its territory and resolve the longstanding border dispute that flares up from time to time. They have also voiced anger at India and China for using Nepali land to secure trade deals. According to residents, Indian security officials have been creating difficulties for Nepalis in the border area ever since the issue of Lipulekh gained prominence.

Dan Singh Tinkari, a local of Byas-1 and former district administrator of 2048 BS, said residents of Chhangru and Tinkari have long suffered due to disputes over Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani. As there is no direct road from Nepal, villagers are compelled to use Indian roads to reach Chhangru and Tinkari—but only after securing permission from Indian authorities. Without such permission, entry is restricted beyond the Chyalek area under India’s Pithoragarh district. The Byasi Sauka community resides in Chhangru and Tinkar of Byas Ward No. 1.

“The state has failed to maintain its territory. There is ample evidence that citizens of Nepali villages Nabi, Kuti, and Gunji—now under Indian occupation—once paid land tax in Nepal,” Tinkari said, alleging that the government remains unaware of the hardships faced by border residents.

Laxmi Raj Bista, chief of the Land Revenue Office in Darchula, confirmed that photocopies of receipts showing locals of Nabi, Kuti, and Gunji paying taxes in Nepal are available. The original receipts, he added, were taken by the Land Management and Records Department in fiscal year 2074/75.

Similarly, Chhangru local Lalit Singh Bohora expressed sorrow that Lipulekh—once a traditional trading post for his ancestors with Taklakot—is now being used for India-China trade. “No government has raised the issue through serious diplomatic initiatives, which is deeply disappointing,” he said.

Narendra Prasad Joshi, president of ANNFSU Darchula, stressed that the Nepal-India border issue can be resolved through meaningful diplomatic efforts. He emphasized that historical ties and cultural relations between the two countries could aid negotiations if the government takes decisive action under strong domestic pressure. Deepak Khati, another Byas resident, also called for talks between Nepal and India to protect the nation’s geographical integrity and resolve the dispute diplomatically.

Meanwhile, Darchula’s House of Representatives member, Dilendra Prasad Badu, said the Nepal-India border dispute must be addressed diplomatically. “It is objectionable that India and China are conducting trade through Nepali land. This is wrong,” he said, urging unity among political parties to resist anti-Nepal activities carried out by the two neighboring nations.

The Nepal government had unveiled a new political map on Jestha 7, 2077, incorporating Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura in Byas-1, Darchula. However, on Bhadra 3, India and China signed an agreement to conduct trade through Lipulekh—territory that falls within Nepal’s revised map.