Rajbiraj, June 8

Security chiefs of districts bordering India held a meeting with their Indian counterparts yesterday in order to convey their security concerns about the upcoming second phase of local level elections scheduled for June 28.

According to Saptari Chief District Officer Krishna Bahadur Katawal, the meeting saw the participation of security chiefs of Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts besides Saptari from the Nepali side and Supaul, Kishangunj and Arariya districts of the state of Bihar from the Indian side.

Sources said the meeting discussed various issues including cross-border crime, arms smuggling, girls trafficking, and border dispute, besides cooperation for security during the upcoming elections. “As polls are the most pressing issue, we mainly focused on our security concerns during the polls,” said CDO Katawal, adding there were also discussions on the possibility of sealing the border during that time. The Indian side is said to have raised the issue of sale of liquor in the bordering areas of Nepal.

Citing the ban in their territories, the Indian officials dwelt on the challenges in maintaining security due to the liquor factor and urged the Nepali side not to allow the sale and distribution of booze within at least 500 metres from the Nepal-India border.