Security has been beefed up at Rautahat border point in view of the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives.

Local residents mentioned that security agencies have intensified surveillance along the Nepal-India border to curb the illegal entry of weapons, ammunition, explosives, firecrackers and narcotics from across the border.

According to them, the increased vigilance has reportedly disrupted smuggling networks operating along the border area.

Chief of Rautahat police and Superintendent of Police (SP) Sitaram Rijal shared that they have strengthened coordination among the security agencies so as to maintain law and order as well as to ensure that voters can exercise their franchise rights without fear and intimidation. 

SP Rijal observed that security mechanisms in the district have become more robust and alert in the recent weeks. He added that seizures of illegally imported goods and tax-evaded items have notably increased.

Likewise, Chief of Area Police Office, Simraungadh, Police Inspector Krishnadev Prasad Sah informed that with the election-centric stricter border security measures in place, smuggling and illegal trade activities have noticeably come down.

According to him, there is a rise in arrests of individuals involved in illegal cross-border activities through unofficial routes, claiming that the crackdown has contributed in restoring a sense of security in the local community.

Meanwhile, the Area Police Office reported that in the last three months, four absconding convicts were nabbed, 18 cases were filed and four people were detained for possessing nearly 80 km marijuana. 

Likewise, police here also seized 46,000 tablets of narcotic drugs-hydrochloride during this period.