Nepal has implemented a 72-hour border closure with India, beginning Saturday, as a precautionary measure ahead of the second phase of the Bihar elections. This decisive action affects border crossings in multiple districts, including Sarlahi, Mahottari, and Rautahat, with Mahottari imposing a complete lockdown on its eleven border points.
The primary objective is to maintain law and order and ensure the integrity of the ongoing electoral process in the neighboring Indian state. Security forces have been put on high alert along the frontier. All movement across the border is suspended, barring exceptional emergency cases, for the duration of the closure, which extends from Friday evening to Tuesday evening. This synchronized border sealing is a testament to the robust security cooperation between Nepal and India, a practice consistently followed during significant electoral events in either country.
The second phase of the Bihar elections will see polling in 122 constituencies spread across 20 districts. This leg of the election involves a large number of candidates and a vast electorate. Security agencies are working in tandem to guarantee a safe and fair electoral exercise, reinforcing the commitment to regional stability during such critical times.