Nepal’s fertiliser crisis lands 2 farmer-brothers in Indian jail, Kathmandu says efforts on for their release

Nepal has launched diplomatic efforts to secure the release of two farmer brothers who have spent nearly three weeks in an Indian jail after being arrested while returning home with fertiliser bought across the border, according to reports.

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the government was working through its embassy in New Delhi to secure bail for the two men, who were expected to be released on Tuesday, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Kathmandu in touch with Indian authorities

The diplomatic push follows reports by Nepal's Kantipur newspaper highlighting the detention of 55-year-old Suresh Prasad Singh and his 60-year-old brother Nagendra Prasad Singh, residents of Balara Municipality in Sarlahi district.

Khanal said Nepal's embassy had been in constant contact with Indian authorities to facilitate their release.

"I have been in regular contact with the embassy for the past three days to help release the Singh brothers from the Indian jail," he said, adding that the family had been asked to travel to India as the bail process moved forward.

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Arrested while bringing fertiliser home

The brothers were detained after crossing into Sonbarsa in Bihar's Sitamarhi district to purchase fertiliser for use on their own farms amid an ongoing shortage in Nepal.

While returning on bicycles carrying two sacks of urea and six sacks of diammonium phosphate (DAP), they were intercepted by a joint team of India's agriculture department and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), India's border guarding force.

Indian authorities accused the pair of illegally transporting fertiliser across the border and took them into custody.

Detention amid Nepal's fertiliser shortage

The brothers were first held at Sonbarsa police station before being shifted to Dumra jail in Bihar's Sitamarhi district, where they have remained for around 20 days. Reports said they had not yet been produced before a court.

The case has drawn attention in Nepal as it comes against the backdrop of a recurring fertiliser shortage, with farmers struggling to access adequate supplies ahead of the crucial rice planting season. Like many farmers in Nepal's southern border districts, the Singh brothers had reportedly travelled to India to purchase fertiliser after failing to obtain enough stock at home.