Biratnagar, March 24:

The main customs point of the eastern Nepal here was closed for about three hours today following a rumour of a possible Maoist attack on it even as the district police office vacated a area police post for similar reasons and the district education office shifted all SLC exam centres outside the district headquarters to Biratnagar due to security reasons.

Works at the customs office were disrupted after personnel of the Armed Police Forces were deployed for its security following the rumour. A group of 70 armed policemen had been deployed for the security of the customs office.

A customs source confirmed the incident but declined to divulge details for security reasons. Sub-inspector of the customs revenue patrol, Bharat Karki, said every passenger entering into Nepal through the point was checked with extra vigilance. It was the first time that such precautionary measures have been taken, according to him.

A security source said the security personnel have been kept on high alert after receiving information that the Maoists may attack the Biratnagar customs point. No cargo trucks coming from India was allowed to enter into Nepal from 3:00 pm to till late evening. Revenue collection at the point was very low today, another source said. On a normal day, around Rs 15 million revenue is collected at the point every day.

With the spread of the rumour of possible attack, the shopkeepers here had pulled down their shutters and people’s movement was also was thin.

Meanwhile, the district police office Morang vacated the area police office at Nimuwa. SP Jagat Bista said the the area police office has been temporarily merged with the district police office. A security source said the merger was carried out for security reasons following a rumour of a possible Maoist attack on the area police office.

Similarly, the district education office Morang has shifted the all the SLC examination centres to the district headquarters with rumours of Maoist attacks. The DEO had earlier fixed SLC exam centres at Rangeli, Urlabari and Belbari as well.