The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has arrested two US nationals and two local accomplices near the India-Nepal border in Madhubani district in Bihar when they were allegedly trying to enter Nepal without valid travel documents.

They were produced before a judicial magistrate and forwarded to jail on Sunday.

The arrested US nationals are husband and wife and residents of California. They were apprehended by the 48th battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal near the border outpost at Betaunha on Saturday afternoon when they were trying to infiltrate Nepal without proper travel documents.

The arrested woman is a native of Nepal. She married the American, settled down in California and gained US citizenship.

“Both of them were moving around in a suspicious manner close to the border. We stopped them before they could cross over to Nepal. We handed them
over to the Jainagar police station area for further
action,” a senior SSB
official said.

Later, the SSB, the Bihar police and officials from the central intelligence agencies questioned them about their movements and why they were trying to enter Nepal from India without
valid papers.

In the preliminary questioning, the duo said they came to India to meet their relatives and witness the Chhath festival in
Bihar. They were then produced before a judicial magistrate and forwarded to jail on his orders.

“We have arrested two local people for providing support to the arrested US nationals in their mission to cross the border and enter
Nepal. They are also being questioned,” Jainagar deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ankur
Kumar said.