High alert in Uttar Pradesh as violence in Nepal triggers border clampdown

Security personnel keep vigil on the India side of the border with Nepal in Mahrajganj district of UP (PTI)

Violent protests in Nepal have pushed the Uttar Pradesh government to place its border districts on maximum alert, with seven districts including Bahraich and Maharajganj emerging as key flashpoints. Security has been tightened to prevent unrest from spilling into Indian territory and to safeguard citizens as trade and cross-border movement grind to a halt.

DGP Rajeev Krishna said coordinated efforts with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) are being undertaken. “The security has been tightened in all seven districts with round-the-clock patrolling and strict checks at entry points. We are in constant touch with the SSB to ensure the safe passage of Indian nationals from Nepal and to prevent any anti-social elements from exploiting the unrest across the border.”

Security has been tightened across all seven Uttar Pradesh districts bordering Nepal—Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar, and Maharajganj—to ensure that the turmoil in the Himalayan nation does not spill into Indian territory. Officials described the deployment as a precautionary step, underscoring its importance due to the porous 1,751-km Indo-Nepal frontier.

In Lakhimpur Kheri, SSP Sankalp Sharma said Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) units have been deployed at 20 checkpoints, while DIG Bareilly Range Ajay Sahni confirmed that additional forces were rushed to five vulnerable locations in Pilibhit district.

In Bahraich, which shares a 112-kilometre frontier with Nepal, the administration has imposed strict monitoring at Rupaidih and Rupaidiha crossings. Joint patrols by local police, PAC, and SSB have been intensified. “Joint patrolling and extensive checking were conducted to strengthen border vigilance and deter any suspicious activity,” a senior Bahraich police officer said.

Local traders are already feeling the pinch. “Most of our customers come from the Nepal side. Since the unrest started, the border is practically sealed and business has dropped to zero,” said Ramesh Gupta, who runs a shop near Rupaidiha crossing. Others fear shortages if the situation drags on. “Even essential supplies like vegetables and medicines move both ways. If the border stays closed for long, prices will shoot up,” said Savitri Devi, a resident of Nanpara near Bahraich.

In Maharajganj, the Sonauli checkpost, eastern UP’s busiest entry point, has witnessed deserted lanes. SP Somendra Meena said, “We are on high alert and conducting thorough checks of suspicious individuals and vehicles with the aid of dog squads in congested areas and along the border.” He confirmed that drones, CCTVs, and metal detectors are being used for tighter surveillance.

At Sonauli checkpost, security personnel are conducting intensive checking of buses and trucks. “Normally hundreds of Nepalese come here daily for shopping and work. Now the crossing looks deserted, and even transporters are worried,” said Sanjay Verma, a transporter in Maharajganj.

Commuters who normally cross daily for work and trade are stranded. “I work in a textile shop in Sonauli but live across the border in Nepal. For the last three days, I haven’t been able to go home,” said Arun Kumar, an Indian resident who shuttles daily. A Nepali commuter waiting near Sonauli added, “We depend on India for supplies and work. If this continues, our livelihoods will collapse.”

SSB officers said additional deployments have been made at sensitive points. DIG SSB Munna Singh confirmed that drone and anti-drone surveillance, as well as facial recognition technology, are being used in high-risk stretches. “Our priority is to prevent infiltration and smuggling attempts under the cover of unrest,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DGP headquarters in Lucknow has activated a special control room under ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash. Three helplines and a WhatsApp number are running round the clock to assist Indians stranded in Nepal. The police’s social media unit is also tracking provocative posts linked to the unrest to ensure law and order is not disturbed within UP.

Yash said misleading posts aimed at disturbing communal harmony or spreading panic will be dealt with strictly. “The government has assured full support to Indian citizens trapped in Nepal, but at the same time it has also been made clear that no attempt to exploit the volatile situation for mischief in border districts will be tolerated,” he said.

Authorities have emphasized zero tolerance for any attempts to exploit the volatile situation. “The government stands with Indian citizens stuck in Nepal, but we will not allow mischief or unrest in our border districts,” said DG Rajeev Krishna.