The District Security Committee has implemented a special security plan in Rupandehi for the second phase of local level elections. 

There are 208 voting stations and 543 voting centres in the district. 

A stringent security arrangement in the run-up and on the day of the election in Rupandehi is crucial to stop the group led by CK Raut, who have been advocating for secession of the Tarai region, and to contain the activities of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), which has threatened to disrupt the elections, says security analysts. There are also some underground outfits that could try to derail the election. Superintendent of Police Rabindra Dhanuk said security has been 

heightened throughout the district and the Nepal-India border areas.

Police also recently arrested seven CPN activists for obstructing the election campaigns of some political parties taking part in the June 28 elections. Chief District Officer Binod Prakash Singh said around 5,000 law enforcement officers has been mobilised throughout Rupandehi for election security.

He added the security agencies were closely monitoring the activities along the Nepal-India border.

5-hour walk to reach voting centre

RUKUM: The people from Rukumkot, Maibang, Jhimka and Kuchibang in Rukum say that they have been inconvenienced by the voting centre designated by the District Election Office. The voting centre in Bholti is at least five hours walk from our place and there is a big chance of the elderly and the disabled people not voting, said Durga Bahadur Budha of Maibang. District Election Officer Kamalmani Devkota said they could not establish a voting centre at a convenient location because there are no schools nearby.

Candidates join Yarsa foragers

DARCHULA: The candidates from Apihimal, Byas and Naugadh village councils of Darchula have taken their election campaigns to the upper region of the district, where most villagers are based these days to collect Yarsagumba. 

The candidates from Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) have joined the villagers in the mountainous region as there are hardly any people in the villages, said Sovan Singh Lothyal of Apihimal. While the villagers are foraging Yarsagumba, the candidates are running their campaigns, he added.