India-Nepal border on alert as protests erupt in Himalayan neighbour, death toll climbs to 19

Nepal protests

The India-Nepal border has been put on alert in view of ongoing protests in Nepal, official sources have told news agency ANI, even as the death toll has climbed to 19 in the neighbouring Himalayan country.

The Nepali daily Himalayan Times reported that the death toll from the protests has climbed to 18, while more than 345 people have been injured across Nepal.

India's border guarding force, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), has intensified vigilance and is closely monitoring the situation to prevent any spillover of unrest into Indian territory.

According to hospital officials, it is reported, at least 17 died in different hospitals in Kathmandu alone–8 people died at the National Trauma Centre, 3 at Everest Hospital, 3 at Civil Hospital, 2 at Kathmandu Medical College, and 1 at Tribhuvan Teaching Hospital.

In Sunsari, 2 protesters shot during demonstrations in Itahari also succumbed to injuries, taking the nationwide toll to 19. Hospitals across the country are treating at least 347 injured protesters.

Those injured include Gen Z protesters, security personnel, and journalists, the report said.

"An alert has been issued on the India-Nepal border, considering a protest in Nepal. Sashastra Seema Bal is keeping a close watch on the development," officials told ANI.

The officials emphasised that the current alert is "preventive in nature", and the situation remains under control.

According to officials, adequate deployment is in place at the border, and strict checks have been implemented at several border outposts. Coordination with the local administration has also been intensified to ensure the smooth movement of people while maintaining security.

The open India-Nepal border, stretching over 1,751 km across states including Uttarakhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Sikkim, allows unrestricted movement of citizens of both countries. While this arrangement fosters close socio-economic and cultural ties, it also requires heightened security whenever political unrest or protests erupt in Nepal.

In the past, border alerts have been issued during periods of internal turmoil in Nepal, including the 2015 Madhesi protests, which had affected trade and cross-border movement.

The SSB, one of India's Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) with a strength of over 90,000 personnel, continues to keep strict surveillance, with reports being regularly sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Apart from border guarding, the SSB is also deployed in counter-insurgency and internal security duties in different parts of India when required.

SSB is on alert following a protest by thousands of youths in Nepal as they broke into parliament there on Monday against a social media shutdown and alleged government corruption.

The Nepal government blocked access to several social media platforms, including Facebook, claiming social media users with fake IDs were spreading hate speech and fake news, and committing fraud and other crimes via some platforms.

With inputs from ANI