Banke, December 23:

In a bid to control smuggling of arms and ammunition from Nepalgunj border, police have intensified security checks on every vehicle entering the country through Rupaidiya entry point.

The security have been beefed up keeping in view the reported smuggling of arms and ammunition through the entry point by the armed outfits in Tarai.

“The security personnel have begun checking all kinds of vehicles — trucks, motorbikes, rickshaws, horse carts, bicycles and buses — entering the country from India,” sub-inspector Bishwo Gautam at the Nepalgunj police check post said, adding, “Different Tarai outfits — Akhil Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha and Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh) in particular — are involved in the smuggling of arms, ammunition and explosives from Nepalgunj.”

Gautam also said security personnel were thoroughly checking luggage and handbags of the passengers. “We are even checking goods-laden trucks if we find them suspicious,” he said.

“Last week, we arrested a boy carrying gelatine, an explosive used to blast rocks in hilly areas,” Gautam said. He also said the Indian border police force had been supporting the Nepali security personnel for security check.

Saying that he has received information on a possible attack on Jamunaha police post by the armed outfits, Gautam said plain-clothes police personnel had been mobilised and night patrolling had been started to thwart possible attacks and control smuggling of arms and ammunition.

Pradip DC, Inspector at District Police Office, Banke, said security measures had been beefed up on the border check post following the increase in the activities of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh) in Nepalgunj.