Nepal has shut all border crossings with India for 72 hours, effective Monday midnight, as a security measure ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for Thursday. The closure, designed to prevent disruptions by unwanted elements, will remain in effect until Thursday midnight.
Deputy Inspector General Bishnu Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson for the Armed Police Force (APF), confirmed that the cross-border movement of people and goods, except essential items, has been suspended. The APF has been assigned the task of securing all entry and exit points along the border.
The move aligns with the Integrated Security Plan 2025 for the elections. Local authorities in Nepal’s border districts have informed residents that the Indo-Nepal border will remain closed for the 72-hour period.
During the closure, transport of essential goods, including fuel, will continue under special arrangements. Authorities have also set up measures to assist foreign nationals stranded at border areas to reach their destinations safely within Nepal.
Nepal is conducting fresh parliamentary elections to fill 275 seats in the House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament. These elections follow the overthrow of the government led by former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli by the Gen Z movement in September last year. An interim government, led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, was subsequently formed with a mandate to hold elections within six months.
Ahead of the polls, border district administrations have also restricted vehicles bearing foreign number plates, which are commonly used in the region.
DIG Bhatta added that coordination has been established with India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to prevent the infiltration of undesired groups. “Heightened vigilance is necessary as weapons and ammunition seized during the Gen Z movement have not yet been recovered,” he stated.
The 72-hour border closure represents a key component of Nepal’s election security strategy, reflecting heightened concerns over potential threats along international boundaries and ensuring a smooth electoral process.
