The Uttar Pradesh government has placed seven districts along the Indo-Nepal border—Shravasti, Balrampur, Bahraich, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Siddharthnagar, and Maharajganj—on high alert in response to escalating violence in Nepal. The unrest, driven by youth-led protests against corruption and a now-revoked social media ban, has plunged Nepal into a political crisis, prompting heightened vigilance to prevent cross-border spillover.

Director General of Police Rajiv Krishna has ordered round-the-clock surveillance, intensified patrolling, and additional police deployments across the 599-km border. The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), responsible for guarding the open border, has bolstered patrols to curb potential infiltration by anti-social elements. A special control room in Lucknow operates 24/7, offering assistance to stranded Indian nationals via helplines: 0522-2390257, 0522-2724010, and 9454401674 (also WhatsApp-enabled). “The UP Police is committed to maintaining law and order and assisting Indian citizens in Nepal,” said ADG (Law & Order) Amitabh Yash.

In Nepal, protests erupted after a government ban on 26 social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Instagram, fueling outrage over corruption and governance failures. The demonstrations turned violent, with protesters torching the Parliament building, the President’s office, and leaders’ residences, resulting in at least 19 deaths and over 500 injuries. Nepalese President Ram Chandra Paudel urged dialogue, stating, “Demands can be addressed through negotiation,” but curfews and Nepal Army deployments have failed to quell the unrest.

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The protests, led by Gen Z activists, have spread to border towns like Nepalgunj, where schools and businesses remain shuttered, and roads are blocked with burning tyres. The resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the Home Minister has not appeased demonstrators demanding broader systemic change. Flights to Kathmandu, including those by Air India and IndiGo, were canceled after attempts to storm Tribhuvan International Airport.

Commissioner Shashi Lal Bhushan Sushil directed district magistrates to coordinate with police and SSB officials to ensure stability, as India braces for potential ripple effects from Nepal’s deepening crisis.

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