Nepal violence: India tightens security in border states

Bahraich: India has sounded a high alert in the states bordering Nepal after violence over social media ban claimed 19 lives in the Himalayan nation. Authorities in Uttar Pradesh have bolstered security measures across districts along the Indo-Nepal border.

At least 19 people were killed and over 250 injured on Monday after security forces in Kathmandu opened fire on demonstrators who stormed Parliament, escalating anger over the ban on 26 platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube. The Nepalese government has since imposed curfews in several areas, including parts of the Terai region, and deployed the army.

In Balrampur, Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar said drones were being used for surveillance and additional forces had been deployed to border police stations. Intelligence agencies have been directed to maintain close watch.

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Bahraich intensified patrolling on highways, village tracks, and forest routes connecting the two countries, reported PTI. Monitoring systems such as face-recognition devices and automatic number plate readers are also in active use, officials said.

In Maharajganj, security at the Sonauli border has been tightened with joint patrols by police and SSB. Passenger screenings at bus stands have been stepped up, while dog squads inspected public places. Authorities said Nepal has shut down the Belhiya and Maheshpur Bhansar offices in Butwal and Bhairahwa, halting vehicle movement and enforcing restrictions on gatherings within a four-kilometre radius.

In Lakhimpur Kheri, officials reported a calm but tense situation at the Gaurifanta border connecting to Dhangadhi in Nepal. “Security agencies are on alert, though people themselves have reduced cross-border movement,” said deputy superintendent of police Yadavendra Yadav.

In Pilibhit, District Magistrate Gyanendra Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav said the SSB had been placed on high alert amid protests in Nepal’s Mahendranagar and Dhangadhi. While no restrictions have been imposed in India, officials said constant monitoring is underway.

Residents along the border reported panic over Nepal’s restrictions. Many families depend on social media to communicate with relatives across the border. “Now, with the ban, families with daughters married in Nepal are especially distressed,” said Akash Pandey, a Maharajganj resident.

SSB also intensified inspections in West Bengal following the Nepal violence. Vehicles are being inspected in the Nepal-India border. 

Tourism has also been affected, with several Indian visitors stranded in Nepal due to the curfew. “We hope the authorities will ensure their safe return,” said Srichan Gupta, a resident of Bharwan in Nepal.

Meanwhile, civil society groups and the tech industry in Nepal have condemned the ban, warning that shutting down major platforms risks harming education, business, communication, and the country’s digital future.