In the light of ensuing LS polls, Indo- Nepal border in U’khand to remain closed for 68 hours from April 9

Kathmandu, April 1: In the light of ensuing Lok Sabha elections, it has been to shut the Indo- Nepal border area along Dharchula to Khatami said the officials in a meeting on Sunday. “The meeting was commenced in NHPC Guest House in Champawat and pronounced that the border will remain completely sealed from the midnight of April 9 to April 11 till 8 pm (68 hours),” District Magistrate Champawat RS Chauhan said.

 

However, the officers said that the decision will not be applicable to foreign tourists (third country) and patients.

India shares with Nepal approximately 300 kilometres border from Dharchula to Khatami located in Uttarakhand state. Uttarakhand will go to polls for its five parliamentary constituencies on April 11.

In February, Indian security officials have said that there could be a flow of counterfeit currency across the border and the Indian criminals could make Nepal as their hideout during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the Bihar state of India. At a Nepal-India border security meeting held in Janakpur, officials of the two countries reviewed the possibility of misusing Nepali soil for criminal activities during elections.

“The possibility of the illegal transaction of fake currency across the open border between Nepal and India at the election time was discussed in the meeting,” said Dhanusha Chief District Officer Pradeep Kandel. “Decisions were taken on keeping special tabs on counterfeit Indian currency, human movement, sales and distribution of liquor and other illegal activities.”

Present in the meeting were chief district officers and chiefs of security agencies from Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha and Saptari districts that border with Bihar’s Madhubani district. District Magistrate of Madhubani Kapil Ashok headed the Indian delegation to discuss border security issues.

“We have discussed sealing border from both sides during the election,” said DM Ashok, adding that measures will be taken to control liquor supply and increasing patrolling at the border.

According to Ashok, Madhubani’s Harlakhi, which is connected to Dhanusha of Nepal, is the most vulnerable area in terms of security threat. Likewise, areas connected by the Kamala River are also security sensitive.

Apart from the Loksabha election, the meeting also discussed human trafficking and social anomalies taking place in the bordering towns. Likewise, controlling contraband drugs, preservation of border pillars and prevention of border encroachment were also discussed at the meeting, according to CDO Kandel.