DANG, June 27: As just a few security personnel have been deployed on the southern border in Dang, the local administration is likely to face a security threat during the local election.
All 26 border points with India in Dang are carrying on as normal. The local administration has established a security unit only at Koyalabas, a major border-crossing point in the district. The other border points remain highly vulnerable.There are only a few security personnel from the Armed Police Force (APF) in Dang.
Communication Minister Karki wins from Sunsari-4 by thin margin
“We have established a single unit at Koyalabas so far and could not expand to other points,” SP Mahendra Bikram Thapa, who heads the Lamahi-based APF office, told Republica.
Thapa informed that they don't have enough security personnel to deploy at each border point. “The main reason behind lack of enough security at border points is shortage of manpower, although the government policy is to deploy security personnel at border points,” he said.
According to Thapa, the Lamahi APF office has a total of 150 personnel under it. “Just 21 personnel remain at Koyalbas border point. Others are deployed at other border points,” he informed. The Indian government has established their security units at 10 various border points.
Thapa said the geographical challenges along the border have also made it hard to deploy security personnel. “We face a lack of security forces and some border points are in remote areas. So, it is difficulty to deploy the security units,” he further said.
The Nepal Police deployed some personnel at the border points after the APF could not field enough manpower for the purpose. Nepal Police has deployed 10 personnel at each of five border points out of the 26 in the district, for election security.
According to Dang District Police Office, Nepal Police has opened offices at Koyalbas, Dagmara, Bhaisahi, Siriya and Khabari so far.
“We deployed personnel after the country sealed off the border for the election,” said SP Dhiraj Pratap Singh, chief of district police. “We could face security threats during the election and that's the reason behind our security deployment in the sensitive areas.”
The local administration claimed that bearing in mind the security threat during polling, they have been deploying security personnel in sensitive areas. Chief District Officer (CDO) Meghnath Kafle informed that they have deployed additional forces, depending on sensitivity.
“Nepal Police and APF personnel have started security patrols on the Nepal-India border,” said Kafle, who is also coordinator of the district security committee. “Nepal-India border points have been sealed from Monday for the elections.”
According to the CDO, emergency vehicles like ambulances are allowed to pass through the border points. He said the Indian side has also deployed security personnel in their areas.
