Security forces of Nepal and India have initiated a joint security patrol of the Nepal-India border in Kapilvastu district to control the spread of Covid-19 and check illegal cross-border activities.

The local administration said security along the sealed border has been heightened in light of possible illegal cross-border movement and smuggling. A joint security patrol of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force of Nepal and Seema Suraksha Bal of India has begun from Saturday.

The central committee of the Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre recently decided that it will continue to seal the Nepal-India border until November 14. Following the decision, the security forces initiated the joint security patrol. Twenty-six security personnel each from both the countries have been deployed on the border.

“The Indian side took our security concerns along the border positively. So we have initiated the joint border patrol,” said Pratap Paudel, inspector at the Area Police Office in Krishnanagar.

Krishnanagar is one of the major points along the Nepal-India border. The Indian side has committed to tightening security to control criminal activities along the open border, said Paudel.

On Saturday, APF Inspector Niranjan Karki led Nepali troops while Sumit Harit, in-charge of the border outpost in Badhani of India, led the Indian security team and patrolled the border area between Border Pillar No 567 and 569.

During the joint security patrol, the security personnel also urged the locals to stay on high alert, as Covid-19 cases are on the rise in both the countries.