BETTIAH, July 14 -- Taking cognizance of fertilisers being smuggled into Nepal, Bihar's East Champaran district administration snapped fertiliser supply to six villages in Bankatwa block abutting Nepal border in the district, officials said on Sunday. The development came hours after a crowd of around 250-300 people belonging to Tarai area of Nepal, led by fertiliser smugglers, clashed with the jawans of the 71st battalion of Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB) at Bram Seema Chowki near Agarwa under Jitna police station in East Champaran in the wee hours of Friday. Four jawans were injured in the attack. East Champaran's district magistrate (DM) Saurabh Jorwal said, "The supply of fertiliser at its all commercial establishments in six villages of Bankatwa block has been stopped till next order. Explanation was sought from Bankatwa block agriculture officer (BAO) and agriculture coordinator and their salary has been stopped." According to officials, these villages include Reganiya, Agarwa, Jolagaon, Badaula, Bhawanipur and Inrwa Barharwa spread over three panchayats in Bankarwa block. Bachcha Prasad, Sakuntala Devi's husband, village head of Bijbani Purvi panchayat put the number of fertiliser shops in these villages at 15. He said like any other villager, he too had been smelling a rat in the operation of a majority of these shopkeepers who procured the fertilisers from distant places, including Uttar Pradesh, with the sole motive to sell them in the markets of Nepal at exorbitant prices. "The allotment made to their shops are often shown to be distributed among their men in collusion with racketeers and the consignment is despatched to Nepal, leaving the local farmers high and dry," he said. Despite all efforts, the owners of the fertiliser shops could not be reached for comments. Meanwhile, district agriculture officer (DAO) Manish Singh has constituted a probe team to look into the matter. "The fertilisers supplied to Bankatwa and other border blocks from April 2025 till now by such wholesale fertiliser sellers will be inspected and strict action will be taken against those found guilty in the investigation as per the rules. The department is committed and vigilant to sell fertilisers on time and at the prescribed price under the zero tolerance policy of the government," Singh said....