Security tightens at Nepal–India border as Rupandehi crossings close for 72 hours

LUMBINI: Security has been tightened at the Nepal–India border ahead of Thursday’s House of Representatives election, officials said.

All crossings in Rupandehi district have been closed for 72 hours from midnight on Monday March 2, the district administration said.

The move follows an informal border coordination meeting between officials from both countries’ border areas, which decided to make security more stringent in view of the elections. The meeting monitored the border area and agreed measures to tighten security.

Madhav Prasad Pokharel, Chief District Officer of Rupandehi, said the meeting was held with his counterpart from Maharajganj district in Uttar Pradesh, India, to discuss security arrangements ahead of the House of Representatives election 2082. He said both parties discussed the possibility of closing the border during the election and how to implement such a closure effectively.

The informal discussions and monitoring were attended by Chief District Officer Pokharel, Chief of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police of the District Police Office, Rupandehi, Janak Bahadur Shahi, Armed Police Force Deputy Inspector General Navaraj Bohara, and Prakash Acharya, Director of the National Investigation Department, from the Nepal side. Santosh Kumar Sharma, the Chief Officer (DM) of Maharajganj district, and SP Somendra Meena of the Indian police were also present.

Pokharel said the Indian side showed interest in assisting to conduct the election peacefully and fairly.

The district administration has stated that all border crossings with India in Rupandehi will remain closed until voting is completed on election day, March 5.

By RSS