Nepal Elections: India Border Closed for 72 Hours Due to Election Security

March 3, 2026

Kathmandu: Nepal – All checkpoints along the Nepal-India border have been closed for 72 hours starting Monday midnight. This step has been taken to ensure election security ahead of the parliamentary elections in Nepal. This is done every time elections are held in Nepal or India, to prevent “unwanted elements” from disrupting the electoral process.

Movement of People and Goods Restricted

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal’s Armed Police Force (APF), Bishnu Prasad Bhatta, told IANS that the movement of people and goods across the border, except for essential items like fuel, has been halted for 72 hours. During this period, arrangements will be made to transport foreign nationals stranded in border areas to their destinations.

Coordination with Indian Security Forces

DIG Bhatta stated that coordination has been established with India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to prevent infiltration by unscrupulous elements. Furthermore, vehicles with foreign license plates have also been banned in border areas. Bhatta said, “We need to be more vigilant because weapons and ammunition looted during the Jan-Z movement have not yet been recovered.”

Background of Nepal’s Elections

Nepal is holding elections for 275 members of the House of Representatives. Former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government was ousted last year due to the Jan-Z movement, following which a provisional government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki was formed. This government was authorized to hold elections within six months.

The local administration has also directed that vehicles with foreign license plates not be used in border districts, a common practice in border areas.

Administration and Security Measures

Security has been tightened in all border districts. The APF is monitoring the situation to ensure that no untoward activity occurs during the elections. Coordination between Indian and Nepalese security agencies has also been strengthened.