Security outfits are on high alert on the Indo-Nepal International border in Uttar Pradesh after massive protests led by Generation Z demonstrators erupted in Kathmandu on Monday.
The violence was triggered during protests in the neighbouring country against the ban imposed by the K P Sharma Oli government on several social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube, citing their failure to meet the deadline to comply with registration requirements in Nepal.
After repeated requests, the government again, on August 28, set a seven-day deadline for social media platforms to register in Nepal. That deadline expired on Wednesday night.
In view of the possibility of any adverse situation around the borders, the vigilance of border security agencies has been increased on the Indo-Nepal border of the Devipatan division in Uttar Pradesh.
Giving the information, Amit Pathak, Inspector General of Police of the Devipatan region, said on Monday that security has been enhanced around a total of 243 open borders, including 98.5 km of Bahraich, 51 km of Shravasti, and 94.5 km of Balrampur district in the division. These open borders mainly include inaccessible paths, footpaths, and roads, along with non-traditional paths of the Sohelwa forest area spread over 452 square kilometres.
He said that apart from this, the Balrampur-Badhni and Balrampur-Koylabasa road routes are open to the public in the district. It passes parallel to the Nepal border through five police station areas, including Gasdi, Jarwa, Lalia, Tulsipur, and Hariya. The Anandnagar-Barhni and Gonda-Barhni railway sections are operational up to the Nepal border.
He said that to stop infiltration through Nepal, combing and searching have been increased along with joint patrolling of Sashastra Seema Bal, civil police, and the intelligence system.
IG Pathak said that every person commuting from across the border is being allowed to come or go only after a thorough investigation. He shared that police teams, along with Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) jawans, are engaged in an intensive search for suspicious passengers in trains.
He said that the special women’s wing is deployed to verify the identity of females wearing veils. Apart from this, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel are deployed within the radius of 15 kms from the border. The outsiders staying in dharamshalas, mosques, hotels, madrasas, and other shelters are also being identified.