India-Nepal security personnel intensify monitoring to curb cross-border infiltration

Kathmandu/New Delhi: Security personnel from both Nepal and India have intensified monitoring at 20 border points to curb infiltration along the 83-kilometre open border between Bardiya in the Himalayan nation and India, an offical said.

The majority of this stretch runs adjacent to India’s Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and dense forest areas, which are considered high-risk zones.

“Joint patrols are being carried out in the no-man’s-land by Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal Police, and India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB),” said Rudradevi Sharma, chief district officer of Bardiya, The Kathmandu Post reported.

An area of particular focus has been the Ganeshpur–Laukahi corridor, identified as a high-risk zone by officials at the Bardiya District Administration Office. In an effort to tighten security, stricter entry protocols have been enforced, requiring individuals to register personal identification at designated checkpoints.

The move comes amid growing concerns that the corridor is being used for criminal purposes such as unauthorised cross-border movement, escaping from legal authorities, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and other forms of illegal trade, which security analysts say could pose broader risks to both local stability and regional security.

The area’s proximity to porous border zones and limited monitoring infrastructure has long made it a challenge for enforcement agencies, underscoring the need for sustained and coordinated oversight.

The enhanced monitoring signals a broader push to assert control over strategic entry points and curb transnational threats in a region long seen as difficult to police.

Individuals crossing the border are now required to provide information on their destination, purpose of visit, return date, and the person they intend to meet. Valid identification has been made mandatory.

The increased vigilance follows the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

Locals have also reported a noticeable decline in the number of Nepali visitors to Indian border towns such as Laukahi and Balaigaun, reflecting the heightened security measures and growing public caution.