Border security tightened for polls in Mahottari

BY RABINDRA UPRETI,Bardibas, Feb. 22: As the House of Representatives election draws near, monitoring of polling stations and deployment of security personnel have been intensified in Mahottari, with authorities placing the district’s security apparatus on high alert.

The District Security Committee said election management was particularly challenging due to the open border between Nepal and India.

Mahottari shares about 39 kilometres of open border with Sitamarhi and Madhubani districts of the state of India, making the prevention of cross-border interference a key concern.

Of the 258 polling stations in the district, 163 (63 per cent) have been classified as highly sensitive, 89 (34 per cent) as sensitive, and only six (2 per cent) as normal. Security deployment, surveillance and patrols have been arranged accordingly, officials said.

Chief District Officer Indradev Yadav said detailed monitoring had been conducted at polling sites across all 15 local levels, assessing physical infrastructure, geographic conditions, security sensitivity and availability of basic facilities such as electricity, drinking water and toilets. He added that all polling stations were being prepared to ensure a free, fair and fear-free voting environment.

“All 258 polling stations are ready, and security surveillance has been strengthened everywhere,” Yadav said, adding that transportation of ballot boxes and voting materials will begin from the last week of February after roads were deemed safe.

To strengthen border security, coordination meetings are being held with Indian counterparts. A bilateral security meeting with Sitamarhi officials was already held in Chandranigahapur of Rautahat on February 7, while another meeting with Madhubani authorities is being planned in Janakpur.

A joint monitoring team comprising CDO Yadav, Chief Election Officer Madhav Prasad Adhikari, district police chiefs from the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force Nepal, and election officials inspected polling locations from the southern border areas to remote hill regions such as Khayarmara and Chhodke.

Earlier, coordination interactions were held in all four constituencies involving political parties, candidates, local representatives and civil society members to build a conducive election environment and discuss poll-related concerns.

CDO Yadav said that joint security mobilisation and cross-border coordination had made election security more robust and reliable in the district.