India, Nepal to step up border patrol to curb border crimes

KATHMANDU: India and Nepal have agreed to step up patrol in their porous border areas to control cross-border crimes, including supply of arms, illegal drugs and human trafficking.

During a Nepal-India Coordination meeting, the two sides agreed to exchange information to control criminal activities along the Nepal-India border.

The meeting was held between Nepals's Armed Police Force and India's Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at the APF headquarters yesterday, Halchowk in the Nepalese capital, myRepublica online reported.

The APF and the SSB have agreed to act responsibly for the security and protection of the border pillars.

The SSB also expressed its commitment for conducting training, logistic requirements and capacity building of the APF.

The report said that the Indian side offered to deploy coordinating officer of the APF in New Delhi for effective coordination and collaboration.

During the meeting, SSB Director General BD Sharma appreciated the APF's role in border security and controlling border crimes.

Inspector General (IG) of APF Koshraj Wanta said having semi-military structure, the APF and SSB consulted and coordinated on controlling crimes in the border areas.

The officials also reviewed the decisions of the first meeting held in Delhi and expressed commitment to implement the decisions of this meeting effectively in the days ahead.