Two farmers from Nepal’s Sarlahi district have been held in an Indian jail for nearly three weeks after being detained while returning from a border market with chemical fertiliser. The brothers, Suresh Prasad Singh, 55, and Nagendra Prasad Singh, 60, were arrested on July 1 near Sonbarsa in Bihar by a joint operation involving India’s Agriculture Department and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), a paramilitary force responsible for border security.
According to family members, the brothers had purchased two sacks of urea and six sacks of diammonium phosphate (DAP) to use on their own farmland in Balara Municipality. They deny allegations of smuggling, stating the fertiliser was intended solely for their roughly 1.69 hectares of land. However, under Indian law, subsidised fertiliser is restricted for domestic use within India, and its transportation across borders without authorisation is prohibited under the Fertiliser (Control) Order and the Essential Commodities Act 1955. Violations can lead to confiscation of fertiliser and vehicles, as well as fines or imprisonment.
Since their arrest, their fields remain uncultivated amid the ongoing monsoon planting season. Family members have expressed significant concern about the slow judicial process and delays in securing bail. Nagendra’s son-in-law, Prabin Singh, indicated that although all necessary documents have been submitted and the police have responded to court requests, the bail hearing has been postponed due to the judge’s absence. The family is hopeful that the brothers will be released soon but remains anxious over the prolonged detention.
Nepalese local authorities have been coordinating with Indian security agencies but acknowledge limited influence over the judicial proceedings. Hom Prasad Ghimire, assistant chief district officer in Sarlahi, confirmed ongoing communication with Indian counterparts, while Chief District Officer Bijay Raj Subedi stated that higher government levels, including the Home Ministry, are engaged. Subedi noted that the brothers have been given access to their relatives and are receiving appropriate treatment during detention. Indian officials reportedly told Nepali authorities that subsidised fertiliser is reserved exclusively for Indian farmers and border security is tasked with preventing its movement abroad.
The case highlights Nepal’s chronic shortage of subsidised fertiliser, particularly in the southern plains, which serve as a major agricultural region. Each planting season, farmers face long waits and limited supplies at government depots managed by the Agriculture Inputs Company. Due to these shortages, cross-border purchases from India have become commonplace despite legal risks faced by those transporting fertiliser into Nepal.
Local community members stress that the Singh brothers are victims of a broader systemic issue rather than offenders. Neighbor Anirudh Singh urged increased diplomatic and legal efforts to secure their release, emphasizing their status as genuine farmers. Human rights advocate Mohna Ansari called the situation "deeply troubling," urging the Nepali government’s Home Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage with Indian authorities to resolve the case promptly and clarify the circumstances of the detention.
The incident has renewed calls for improved fertiliser supply management in Nepal and more robust diplomatic coordination to protect farmers caught in legal disputes arising from essential agricultural needs.