RANJHA, Jan 13: The risk of coronavirus infection has gradually heightened in Banke district due to weak regulation on the movement of people across the Nepal-India open border. Though people entering via the Nepalgunj-based Jamunaha checkpoint have gone through coronavirus tests, the movement of the people through open entry points in other rural areas has been grossly unregulated.

Territory, legitimate government, population, recognition by other countries, sovereignty and military force constitute a state. Among all the elements territory is the first and foremost important element. And that particular territory of a state has to be defined, delineated and well protected. The people of that particular state have sovereign rights within that designated borders.

Three Indian nationals, who had entered Nepal defying the nationwide lockdown enforced by both India and Nepal, were tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in Kathmandu has confirmed the results. The Indian citizens, who had entered Nepal some 20 days ago, were staying at a Muslim orphanage in Birgunj Metropolitan City-2. As many as 21 Indian nationals are said to have entered Nepal during the lockdown to join a Muslim convention in which thousands of others had also participated. Most of them are known to have come from India’s Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. With this, the number of COVID-19 infections in Nepal jumped to 12 from nine. There have been a couple of other cases like this. Two persons who entered Nepal through the Far-western border had been tested positive earlier this month. Another 65 years old woman who reached Kailali from Birgunj has also been tested positive.

KATHMANDU, Dec 22: Amid concern that new amendments to India’s citizenship-related laws and subsequent protests across that country could cause a mass exodus of people across the open border with Nepal, the authorities here have stepped up security vigilance and checks at major border crossing points.

KATHMANDU, Nov 27: The Indian government on Wednesday said that Indian and Nepali security agencies have maintained good cooperation to check the influx of fake Indian currency notes into India.