108 of 130 polling stations in Banke highly sensitive: Police

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT 

Nepalgunj, Oct.30: Most of the polling stations set up for upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies in Banke district are being treated as highly sensitive.  

According to the District Police Office, Banke, 108 of 138 polling stations of Banke, which are near Nepal-India border, are considered highly sensitive for various reasons, and security plans have been prepared accordingly.

Superintendent of Police (SP) and chief of the District Police Office, Banke, Shyam Krishna Adhikari said that though it would be a big challenge to hold the elections peacefully, the security agencies have made special preparations to conduct the election peacefully in the district.  He said that special arrangements have bee n made for the security of 108 polling stations in the district by declaring them as highly sensitive areas. Out of 138 polling stations, 108 have been declared highly sensitive and 30 as sensitive. 

A joint security team of all security agencies will be deployed at every polling station for election security and security personnel will also be alerted so that additional forces could  be added immediately if needed, said Adhikari. 

Stating that the open border has become the biggest challenge to the election security, the District Police Office, Banke, has said that for the same reason, a strict vigil has been kept at all the checkpoints and special surveillance has also been kept among the India-returnees. 

Due to the open border, fear of small arms and Indian criminals entering Nepal easily have also added security challenge. 

Rama Panta, Chief of the Election Office, Banke, said that the security committee had been informed that 108 polling stations are highly sensitive and 30 are sensitive.

According to her, there were 136 polling stations in the local level elections held in May this year, but this time, 138 polling stations have been set up including one in Kohalpur Municipality and another  in Duduwa Rural Municipality.