KATHMANDU, Nov 15: Voters along the Nepal-India border areas in Banke district have demanded candidates for the elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly take initiations for a reliable security system in these settlements. 

People of Hirminiya, Holiya, Piprahawa and Jamunah under the Banke constituency -2 have expected election candidates approaching them for support during the elections to do something for the relief from numerous issues such as looting and smuggling. 

Kailash Yadav of Piprahawa of Nepalgunj Sub metropolis-15 said they lack a reliable security mechanism so that they could live soundly. “Cases of theft, smuggling, robbery and looting are frequent along the border area and under these circumstances, they could not feel safe.  We have cases of livestock stolen from the cowshed and vehicles from the parking lots,” he said. 

All the three electoral constituencies in Banke share borders with India. Sixty-five kilometers of area in Banke is adjoined to Indian territory. 

The Banke folks had the same demand in the last local level elections.  Rajendra Verma of Hirminiya Rural Municipality-6 said they are vulnerable to numerous security issues including the cross-border crimes and that  is why they want to be sure that the people they are sending as their representatives feel it necessary to address their problems. 

According to him, the Indian Seema Surakhsha Bal (SSB), the border security force of India, is present in large numbers on the Indian side of the border. Although the SSB's presence has contributed to stop the smuggling and illegal activities from across the border to some extent, the incidences of serious and petty crimes and theft are still reported. 

The main demand of the people of the bordering area with the election candidates is to ensure security as presently there is sparse presence of security personnel on the Nepali side.

Apart from security, the electorate has also been raising the issues related to irrigation facilities, operation of the Chhoti customs, and expansion of electricity, road and health facilities.

Verma said that the leaders should take initiatives for removing this problem as well. 

Most of the candidates have been giving assurances for managing police stations for security as well as expanding the development infrastructures such as roads, electricity and irrigation in the election constituency. 

All the candidates who have reached the villages in the bordering area for electioneering have pledged to make arrangements of security and construct the basic infrastructures.

Dr Dhawal Shumsher Rana who is a candidate for the House of Representatives (HoR) Member election from Banke Constituency no 2, said there is need of providing security and carrying out development works in the bordering areas, and that he has taken the demands as his priorities. Rana is the common candidate of the RPP and CPN-UML.

(RSS)

 
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