A team of around 13 soldiers of the Seema Suraksha Bal was detained by Nepali border security guards early on Sunday morning after the jawans crossed the border while chasing suspected smugglers. The SSB men were tracking the criminals in Bihar’s Kishanganj district when they saw suspicious activity along the Ambari-Kesna border, PTI reported. They started following the suspects and crossed over into Khuntanmani village. The squad, led by Constables Roshan and Ramprasad, was handed over to Nepali border security troops, who took them to the country's Jhapa district. Local villagers allegedly started protesting against the SSB squad after they crossed over.

Officials said the SSB team was alert after having seized 1,500 litres of diesel across the border on Saturday evening. SSB director General BD Sharma told PTI he had spoken to Nepal’s Armed Police Force chief and Inspector General Kesh Raj Onta who told him the men would be returned safely. “A border meet is on between the field commanders of the two sides,” said General Sharma.