Authorities Seal India-Nepal Borders for Three Days Ahead of Bihar Polls
India-Nepal border points in Bihar districts sealed for 72 hours to ensure election security.
Nepal has sealed its entire border with Bihar for 72 hours starting Saturday evening, shutting all crossing points across multiple districts ahead of the second phase of Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for November 11. The closure, described as a routine security measure, affects 11 border points in Mahottari district alone, with similar restrictions enforced in neighbouring Sarlahi and Rautahat. Movement of people and vehicles has been completely halted from 6 p.m. on November 8 until 6 p.m. on November 11, officials confirmed.
Mahottari Assistant Chief District Officer Sanjay Kumar Pokhrel told ANI that the decision was taken purely from a security perspective to prevent any untoward incidents during the sensitive polling period. “All border points along Mahottari have been sealed from 22 Kartik to 25 Kartik (Nepali calendar),” he said, adding that Armed Police Force personnel have been deployed in strength to enforce the closure. Similar directives have been issued across the 1,751-km open India-Nepal frontier, though only segments adjacent to Bihar’s 17 polling districts are under total lockdown.
The move mirrors protocols followed during previous Indian elections in border states, aimed at curbing potential infiltration, smuggling of cash or liquor, and movement of anti-social elements. Bihar’s second phase covers 94 constituencies across the Seemanchal and Mithilanchal regions that share direct border access with Nepal. Intelligence inputs about possible disruption attempts by criminal gangs operating across the porous frontier reportedly influenced the timing and duration of the shutdown.
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While essential medical emergencies and diplomatic movement are being facilitated through designated channels, regular trade and daily wage labourers have faced severe disruption. Local authorities on both sides have set up coordination desks to handle genuine hardship cases. As polling day approaches, security has been intensified along the entire stretch, with joint patrols by India’s Sashastra Seema Bal and Nepal’s Armed Police Force maintaining round-the-clock vigilance until borders reopen Tuesday evening.
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