KAPILVASTU, April 30: The government has decided to close the country’s border checkpoints for 72 hours before the upcoming local level election. The decision was taken at a meeting of security officials of Kapilvastu, Rupandehi, West Nawalparasi and Siddharthnagar Balrampur districts of India in Bhairahawa. The movement of people to and from the border checkpoints will also be restricted during the period.
Keeping in view of the election, the meeting also formulated an integrated security plan between the two countries, said Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, Chief District Officer of Kapilvastu. There will also be a joint patrol of Nepali and Indian security personnel at the border point.
"In the run-up to the election, the security officials of the two countries have decided to make the border checkpoints systematic and dignified," Mishra said. "For that, the security officials of the two countries have agreed to cooperate and exchange information.”
Decisions have been made to set up security checkpoints at the border, exchange information on real time basis, control drugs, human trafficking and smuggling of illegal weapons, trade in illicit currency, conduct awareness programs in border areas and increase border surveillance between security personnel of Nepal and India at the meeting.
Meanwhile, India has also agreed to repair and manage the border post. Mishra said that they have agreed to repair the dilapidated and submerged pillars at the border.