During the local elections in 2022, the scene of some locals running away with a ballot box from the Bhediyahi polling centre in ward 2 of Yamunamai Rural Municipality in Rautahat drew nationwide attention.

The ballot box was snatched while voting was under way, prompting sharp criticism of the Rautahat police for failing to maintain order. The Election Commission subsequently cancelled the vote at the centre and polling was conducted on another day under heavy security.

The incident, widely shared on social media and television, exposed glaring lapses in security arrangements and negligence by authorities. The disruption not only forced the cancellation of voting at the centre but also raised broader concerns about election security in the district.

Ahead of the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5, the same polling station has once again been placed on the list of “highly sensitive” centres by security agencies. Security officials say the classification reflects past incidents of ballot box snatching, clashes between rival political party cadres, attempts at booth capture and retaliatory violence during polls.

Such incidents have not been limited to Rautahat district. Similar confrontations and disputes have been reported in other districts of Madhesh province during previous elections. Based on an analysis of these patterns and prevailing security challenges, authorities have categorised polling stations across the province as ‘normal’, ‘sensitive’ or ‘highly sensitive’, with all districts in the province facing heightened security scrutiny for the forthcoming polls.

Security agencies have classified nearly 58 percent of polling stations in the province for the upcoming elections as “highly sensitive”, citing past incidents of violence, political rivalry, open border vulnerabilities and lingering security concerns following recent unrest in the region. The decision follows assessments based on previous election-day disturbances.

According to the Madhesh Province Police Office in Janakpur, out of 2,160 polling stations across the province, 1,236 have been categorised as highly sensitive, while the rest have been placed under sensitive or normal categories. A senior police official involved in election preparations said fierce competition between established political forces and new ones has further increased the risk of clashes in some areas and makes security management more challenging than in previous elections.

Concerns have also grown after weapons were looted and detainees escaped during the Gen Z uprising in September last year. Officials fear these incidents could mar election security.

Rautahat Police Chief Superintendent Sitaram Rijal said the stolen weapons and absconding prisoners remains a major challenge. “We are on high alert. Intelligence coordination and joint patrols have been strengthened to prevent any untoward incidents,” he said at a recent press briefing.

Across the province’s eight districts, joint patrols involving the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been intensified. Security personnel have been deployed in larger numbers at vulnerable polling centres, while border surveillance has also been tightened along the 367-kilometre open frontier with India.

Deputy Inspector General Krishna Dhakal of the Armed Police Force in Bardibas said strict checks have begun at major border crossings to prevent the movement of weapons and criminal elements. “There will be no compromise on election security,” he assured.

According to the Madhesh Province Police Office in Janakpur, Saptari district has the highest number of highly sensitive polling stations. A total of 209 polling stations in Saptari have been categorised as highly sensitive, followed by 194 in Dhanusha, 163 in Mahottari, 158 in Sarlahi, 154 in Siraha, 152 in Rautahat, 145 in Bara and 62 in Parsa.

Madhesh Province has 3,517,123 registered voters across 32 federal constituencies, where 1,054 candidates are contesting for their seats in the House of Representatives.