India directs state govts to increase security along Indo-Nepal border
31 January, 2007
NEW DELHI, Jan 30 - New Delhi Tuesday asked its state governments to keep a close eye on security along the Indo-Nepal border to control the rising unrest in the Terai region.
According to sources, Utter Pradesh and Bihar have already mobilized additional border security forces along the 1800-kilometer porous border with Nepal. The state government also began close vigilance on possible violent activities in the border areas.
The Indian government's move came after the visiting Nepali political leaders met with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and discussed the recent unrest in the Terai region today.
The Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Singh, after meeting with the Nepali leaders, urged the eight-party leaders to resolve the Terai unrest at the earliest.
"We have increased vigilance along the border," said Foreign Minister Patil, adding, "You (Nepal) should also remain vigilant."
Visiting Minister for Culture and Tourism Pradip Gyawali, Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel and UML leader Jhalanath Khanal separately met Mukherjee this morning. They met the Indian prime minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the sidelines of the Satyaghraha programme.
"I want to assure you that there will not be any activities on our soil that will jeopardize the ongoing (Nepal's) peace process," Minister Gyawali quoted the Indian foreign minister as saying.
When the Nepali leaders stated that "royalists and some extremist groups of India" had stirred the Terai violence, Indian Minister Mukherjee said that "some elements with bad intentions could have taken advantage of the open border."
During the meeting, the Indian minister also acquired information about Nepal's recent political developments and Maoist arms management issues.
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posted by Bimal 31.1.07,
