Rautahat Police Seize Over 9 Million Rupees Worth of Pumpkin Seeds

Rautahat. Rautahat police have seized pumpkin seeds worth more than 9 million rupees by conducting a special operation in the Nepal-India border area. The seized materials were found ready to be illegally exported to India, the police said. According to District Police Office Rautahat spokesperson DSP Basanta Gautam, based on special information, a joint team of Nepal Police and Armed Police raided the Bankul Tole area of Baudhimai Municipality-7 on Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM. A large quantity of pumpkin seeds was found hidden under a tarpaulin near the border road. The police have seized 322 sacks of pumpkin seeds (total 12,880 kilograms). The estimated market value of the seized seeds is 90 lakh 16 thousand rupees. The seized materials have been handed over to the District Customs Office, Gaur, for necessary action, informed District Police spokesperson DSP Gautam. During the seizure of the pumpkin seeds, some local individuals obstructed and hurled stones. To control the situation, the police fired 6 rounds of tear gas. During the incident, a total of 6 people, including three local residents and three police personnel, sustained minor injuries from stone pelting. The condition of the injured is reported to be normal, the police said. According to the chief of the District Police Office Rautahat, SP Sitaraam Rijjal, surveillance and action have been intensified to control illegal cross-border smuggling in the border areas. Further investigation into the incident is underway, the police said. A month ago, smugglers were taking pumpkin seeds worth about 7 million rupees from Nepal to India, which were seized by the Indian Border Security Force SSB in the Ghodasahan police station area of India and brought under the purview of action. Smugglers smuggle Chinese pumpkin seeds to various states of India through various illegal routes in Rautahat and Bara. Recently, pumpkin seeds are said to be consumed as a diet in India.