Security beefed up at Rupandehi border for elections

BHAIRAHAWA: Security has been intensified at Belahiya, the transit point in Rupandehi district, in view of the tomorrow’s election to the House of Representatives and State Assembly Member.

With this, a long queue of trucks and containers has formed on both sides of the checkpoint. The empty trucks and containers destined to India from Nepal as well as Indian tourists and the Nepali nationals coming to Nepal for voting have been stranded on the border.

Although it was said that the Nepal-India border would be closed from 12 night on Nov 17, since it was not practical the security personnel have tightened security checks but have allowed the members of the general public on both sides of the border to cross the border.

Armed Police Force (APF) superintendent Gagan Shrestha, who was on duty at the border, said that sick people, vehicles carrying the patients, trucks and vehicles transporting essential goods have been allowed to cross the border while keeping the Indian nationals on the Nepal side and the Nepali voters towards Indian side ‘on hold’ for some time.

There is a long line of trucks towards the Nepal side of the border and preparations are being made to allow them to cross the border to India in coordination of the Indian side.

According to Shrestha, although the cross-border movement of vehicles and people would be eased on Saturday, it would be completely suspended on Nov 20, the voting day.

High-ranking Indian officials are also keeping an eye on the border along with the security personnel of Nepal and India.

Assistant District Magistrate of Maharajgunj District, India, Dinesh Kumar Mishra, said that India’s full cooperation and coordination would be there in connection with managing the election security in Nepal.

Nepal and India share around 60 kilometres of open border in Rupandehi district. Along with the APF, Nepal Police have also been mobilized on the transit points along this border.