Nepal-India border to be closed during the polls

Officials from bordering districts of Nepal and India have agreed to close down international border during municipal polls slated on Wednesday in Nepal.

According to the official news agency RSS, the meeting of security officials of Rautahat, Sarlahi and Mahottari districts and their Indian counterparts decided to close the border from Tuesday to Thursday with a view to hold fair, and free elections in peaceful environment.

High alert would be observed to control criminal activities and to ban alcohol during the time of elections in the border area, the news report said.

The meeting was participated in by District Magistrate Suman Kumar of Sitamadhi district, India, Rautahat CDO Bhanu Bhakta Pokharel, CDO Bodha Raj Adhikari of Sarlahi district and CDO Jaya Mukunda Khanal of Mahottari district.

Similarly, the state-run Gorkhapatra daily reported that officials of eastern district of Morang and bordering Indian district of Arariya have decided to completely close the border 24-hour in advance of the municipal polls.

RSS news agency quoted Morang CDO, Nirendra Dahal, as saying that officials from both the countries have agreed to maintain regular contact to maintain law and order and curb what he called criminal activities during the elections.

Both the countries also close down Nepal-India border during elections in the bordering Indian states. nepalnews.com by Feb 06 06