MAHOTTARI, Sept 16: In view of the upcoming third phase local elections, the Nepal-India border along the Indian districts of Simatmadi and Madhuwani and Mahottari district of Nepal has been sealed.
The border was sealed 72 hours (three days) prior to the local elections scheduled to take place in the eight districts of Province-2 on September 18. Security personnel from Nepal and India collaborated for the border closure, according to Chief District Officer Babu Ram Shrestha of Mahottari.
Border sealed at five customs points in Mahottari
Out of the 15 local units in Mahottari, five border the southern neighbor. About 38.4 kilometers of the border at Matihani Municipality, Jaleshwar Municipality, Manarasiswa Municipality, Samsi Rural Municipality and Sonam Rural Municipality have been sealed.
“The border was sealed 7a.m. on September 16 and will remain closed until 7 p.m. on September 18,” informed CDO Shrestha. “We sealed the border keeping in mind the possibilities of interference in the polls by criminal groups,” he said, adding that everyone is completely prohibited from crossing the border from either side for the duration of the closure.
Following the border closure, vehicular movement in the bordering areas has completely stopped. “As cross-border crime is a big issue during sensitive events such as electins, sealing the border will help voters feel safer,” CDO Shrestha added.
Nepal and India have jointly deployed security forces on the border to strengthen border security during the polls period, he said adding, both sides are alert to prevent weapons smuggling from across the border, among other security issues.
Likewise, security personnel are also monitoring pharmacies on the Indian side of the border in order to prevent any illegal drugs trade. The authorities in Mahottari have directed the closure of liquor stores in the district by 8 pm.
