Cross border movement decreased

Kathmandu Nov 6-The number of Nepalese and Indians crossing the border has decreased significantly following the enforcement of identity card system to enter India and Nepal at the transit of Nepalgunj-Rupadiya, a report on Sunday said.

The report said that the number Nepalese visiting India dropped by more than 50 percent after the implementation of the ID card system from Nov 1.

For the first time, Nepal and India have introduced provisions of producing identity cards for Indians and Nepalis entering Nepal or India.

Officials from both of the countries have said the new arrangement is aimed at controlling the terrorist activities and smuggling in the bordering areas, adding such provision would be fruitful to detect any sort of infiltration in either side of the border and manage the border appropriately.

Team of officials working at immigration offices of both the countries have initiated jointly to monitor identity cards of common people crossing the border, reported Rajdhani daily.

Introduction of compulsory identity provisions has discouraged those who make regular trip to nearby Indian cities and it has also checked the movement of suspicious persons.

Chief district officer of Banke district and district police chief believe that the new arrangement would be fruitful in managing border in a systematic way.

Along with this provision, officials at the transit have started maintaining accounts of those persons entering Nepal or India.