Almost 60,000 villagers have fled the central and far western districts of Nepal due to the Maoist insurgency. While large numbers have headed for towns in the eastern regions of Nepal, many of them crossed the border through Rupeidha, Banbassa and Jhulaghat and landed up in India in search of security and employment. A number of villages in eastern Nepal are already desolate with very low populations.
According to the police, about 1,000 people enter India daily through Rupeidha. Sometimes this number exceeds 2,000. It is assumed that same numbers cross into India through the other two entry points.
"We cannot stay in our villages any longer. We are tormented by the Maoists and with development activities at a standstill due to insurgency, we are forced to go to Indian cities to earn a livelihood and in search of a better life," says Dambar Budhathoki, a local of Tharmare village in Salyan district.
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