By Admin 
Election bugle is about to sound in India’s neighboring country Nepal. Parliamentary elections are to be held here on March 5. Keeping the elections in mind, it has been agreed to close the India and Nepal border for 72 hours, the aim is to ensure that there is no hindrance during the elections.
On Friday (February 7), a DIG level meeting was held between the Indian Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Nepal Armed Police Force (APF), in which both sides agreed to strengthen surveillance and security on the border to stop infiltrators from disrupting the elections in Nepal.
APF spokesperson DIG Vishnu Prasad Bhatt told IANS that Nepal had requested the Indian side to close the border post two days ago. The Indian side agreed to our proposal, as per the agreement, India and Nepal border posts will remain closed for three days i.e. 72 hours including the election day.
DIG Bhatt said, there is an old tradition of closing the borders of India and Nepal before elections. During elections, a large number of security agencies are deployed at the polling booths, hence it is necessary to do so to maintain the security arrangements at the border and to prevent infiltration.
He further said, in this meeting held between the two sides, border security, control of cross-border crime and stopping illegal movement of third country citizens, human trafficking, fake currency, drug smuggling and trade were also discussed. At the same time, concern was also expressed from the Indian side regarding the possibility of infiltration of Pakistani terrorists taking advantage of the open border of Nepal. According to AFP, in this meeting, security of the border gate, making the movement of people from both sides easier and rescue in emergency etc. were also discussed.
India has repeatedly expressed concern over the possibility of infiltration by Kashmiri and Pakistani terrorists taking advantage of the open border between Nepal and India. APF said that security of border posts, facilitating movement of passengers, joint patrolling, disaster rescue exercises and organizing joint sports activities were also discussed in the meeting.