Indo-Nepal border to be closed for elections

NEPAL HAS DECIDED TO CLOSE BORDERS WITH INDIA FROM NOVEMBER 17 TO NOVEMBER 20

BAHRAICH/GORAKHPUR: : The Indo-Nepal border would be sealed from the midnight of November 17 to the midnight of November 20, in view of general elections in neighbouring country Nepal.

To discuss the issues related with the elections and to counter smuggling through the porous Indo-Nepal border, a high level coordination meeting of officials of both the nations was held in Banke district of Nepal late on Wednesday evening. Administrative officials of the border districts of India and Nepal participated in the meeting. District magistrate, Bahraich, Dr Dinesh Chandra said the administration was committed to providing all possible support to ensure free and peaceful elections in Nepal.

Chief development officer of Banke Surya Bahadur Khatri said owing to general elections, the Nepal government had decided to close borders with India from November 17 to November 20. Movement would be prohibited during the period. Khatri appealed to the administrative officials of Bahraich and Shrawasti districts for their cooperation during the closure period. The authorities also discussed how to curb smuggling of narcotics, wildlife

and human trafficking through the border. District magistrate Shrawasti Neha Prakash also assured all possible support to the authorities deployed on the Indo-Nepal border. The border at Sunoli in Maharajganj district would also be sealed, confirmed district magistrate Satyendra Kumar, who along with the SP, had taken part in a meeting on the request of officials of Rupandehi district in Nepal.

Spokesperson of Nepal police Shamu Aryal said on phone that 213polling stations had been set up in Rupandehi on the Nepal side and as 65 of them were highly sensitive, they were under strict vigil.