Officials said the move is aimed at controlling movement of 'unwanted' and 'criminal' elements across the border in view of violent protests taking place in various districts in central and western Nepal bordering India and the upcoming state assembly polls in Bihar.Home Ministry Spokesperson Laxmi Prasad Dhakal said, "The Home Ministry has directed the chief district officers and chiefs of security agencies in various restive districts to ensure proper coordination with their Indian counterparts and check the movement of unwanted elements."
Cooperation between Indian and Nepali authorities was evident in Sarlahi district Friday when both sides tightened cross-border security. The security was tightened in view of the planned protest rally in Malangawa by various agitating Madhes-based parties over the delineation of federal provinces.
Officials said Nepali security personnel allowed only Indian nationals to across the border into India while Indian security personnel allowed only Nepali nationals to cross into Nepal. The Indian Shashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Nepal's Armed Police Force (APF) erected temporary check points on their respective sides.
The security cooperation between the two countries comes in the wake of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam claiming in parliament that there was infiltration of some unwanted elements from the south during the ongoing agitation of Madhes-based parties and the Tharuhat protests in western Nepal.
As Gautam was apparently referring to India in his use of the word 'south', the Indian embassy in Kathmandu had immediately refute any such claim and Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae met Gautam over the matter.
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