High alert in Uttarakhand ahead of Nepal elections

Dehra Dun, Apr 9 (UNI) A high alert has been sounded across the Indo-Nepal border in Uttarakhand ahead of Nepal's crucial Constituent Assembly elections tomorrow.

Strict security measures have been taken and eight companies of the Seema Suraksha Bal(SSB) and PAC deployed to intensify patrolling across the border.

The three districts of Pithoragarh, Uddhamsinghnagar and Champawat, which share their border with Nepal, have been put on alert.

Talking to UNI, Additional DGP Abhinav Kumar said security measures in the state had begun a week ago and senior police officials were keeping a strict vigil in the three districts.

''Coordination meetings were held with our counterparts in Nepal and sensitive areas have been identified as well as crossing areas,''he said, adding as of now, general checking was on.

He informed that deployment of forces was done 48 hours prior to the elections and Central Intelligence agencies were on the alert at sensitive places.

Nepal will choose a National Assembly in the first general elections since a peace accord in November 2006 ended a 10-year fight by rebels to replace the monarchy of King Gyanendra with a communist republic.

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