Security measures have been stepped up in the Gaur customs, the major transit point in Rautahat district, in view of the upcoming second phase of parliamentary and provincial elections slated for December 7.

Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel stationed in the customs were seen conducting security checks on people traveling to and from nearby Indian towns through Gaur customs.

The security check caused nuisance to thousands of travelers, making them wait in queue for hours to cross the Nepal-India border.

Gaur customs is a busy transit point where around 4,000 vehicles including jeep, truck and motorcycle, cross each day. Around 5,000-6,000 people travel through the border each day, according to security personnel stationed at the Gaur customs.

Rautahat SP Yagya Binod Pokhrel said they have started tight monitoring in the customs as people are likely to smuggle weapon, explosives to foil the upcoming federal parliamentary and provincial assembly elections.

"The district is categorised highly sensitive from the security point of view," said Pokhrel, adding, "We have adopted additional vigilance to curb untoward incidents."

The security measures have been upped following a series of violent activities particularly bomb blasts in various parts of the country in the run-up to the elections.

Indian vehicles barred entry to Nepal from Monday

The District Security Committee has decided to prohibit entry of Indian vehicles to Nepal through Gaur customs from Monday. Earlier, it was decided that the border would be sealed for the elections from December 4 (Monday midnight). But looking at the security sensitiveness, the Indian vehicles will be barred from Monday morning, security officers said.

Furthermore, the committee took the decision to disallow the movement of Indian number plate vehicles inside Nepali territory, said Chief District Officer Uddhav Bahadur Thapa.

CDO Thapa further said that actions will be taken against Indian vehicle defying the order. Necessary instructions have been given to Nepal Police, APF and Nepal Army to this end, said Thapa.

The decision was taken after a meeting with Indian security officers today.

"The border has to be sealed for 72 hours prior to the elections. It cannot be sealed before midnight of December 4 according to the legal provision," said Gaur customs Chief Rajan Kafle, "But we cannot allow Indian vehicles to enter Nepal as the security committee took the decision."

Kafle further said that they will however make arrangements to allow passage to the Indian number plate vehicles which are identified as 'highly necessary'.

There are over 7,000 security personnel deployed in the district for the elections.