Kathmandu, 15 October (H.S.): Twenty-five children under the age of 10 from Nepal’s Humla district, who were being taken to Dehradun in India to study the Tibetan language, have been sent back to Nepal after Indian authorities stopped them at the Banbasa checkpoint near the India-Nepal border.

The children, who belong to Seya village in Simkot, Humla district, had reportedly entered India through the Gaddachauki border crossing in Kanchanpur with Panchapvir Budha. However, when they reached the Banbasa checkpoint, Indian officials stopped them and sent them back to Nepal. The children have since been handed over to the Kanchanpur police, who are investigating the purpose behind taking them to India.

According to reports, the 25 children, all below the age of 10, were being taken to Dehradun for education in the Tibetan language. However, it has not yet been established which educational institution they were intended to attend.

It also remains unclear whether the children’s parents or guardians had given their consent for them to be taken to India. The Kanchanpur police have stated that further details of the case are yet to emerge as the investigation continues.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar