Security beefed up across Indo-Nepal border

MAHRAJGANJ: Security along the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh has been beefed up in view of the constituent Assembly elections in Nepal on November 19.

The eight districts falling under this border area, which have been turned into a fortress are Maharajganj, Lakhimpur, Sidharth Nagar, Pilibhit, Kushinagar, Bahraich, Shravasti and Balrampur.

The decision to seal the 500-kilometre-long and porous border was taken during a recent meeting of officials of both the countries, Commandant of the Shashtra Seema Bal (SSB) K S Bankhothi said.

The Indo-Nepal border would be sealed completely two days before polling and movement of people would also be banned, he said.

Computerised cameras would be installed at trade and transit points along India's border with Nepal, Bankhothi said.

He said two such cameras have already been set up at Sonauli on India-Nepal border.

About 800 tourists pass near Sonouli on the Indo-Nepal border everyday, the sources said, adding that almost an 84 kilometre stretch there was open and such that people could slip in without being noticed easily.

He said movement had been banned on the Indo-Nepal border and security personnel were maintaining round the clock vigil.