Uttar Pradesh government today asked the Centre to reconsider its decision to grant the powers of search, seizure and arrest to Sashastra Seema Bal deployed on the Indo-Nepal border in view of complaints regarding alleged misbehaviour by SSB personnel with locals.

"While checking activities of anti-social and anti-national elements on the Indo-Nepal border, it was also necessary to protect the interests of innocent villagers, who often complain about alleged misbehaviour by SSB personnel and clashes with them. In view of this, we request Home Ministry to re-consider its decision to grant power of search, seizure and arrest to the SSB," an official spokesman said.

The Home Ministry had decided to give power of search, seizure and arrest to SSB persnnnel deployed on the 15 km long Indo-Nepal border in the state by making an arrangement under the CrPC, he said.

He said that the state government had earlier given the power of search, seizure and arrest to SSB on Oct 10, 2007 but withdrawn it later on Aug 14, 2008 due to public resentment.

"SSB personnel did not have any coordination with the locals due to which a number of incidents of clashes had taken place between them", he said.

Citing the latest instance, he said two villagers died today and a number of them were injured in a clash with 39th battalion of SSB in Trikolia village in Pallia area of Lakhimpur Kheri.

Though SSB had not given any information about the incident, the state government was confirming the incident, he said.

The Union government had deployed SSB along Indo-Nepal border in 2001 to check entry of unscrupulous elements and their activities.