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Security has been beefed up at Rautahat border point in view of the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives.

Local residents mentioned that security agencies have intensified surveillance along the Nepal-India border to curb the illegal entry of weapons, ammunition, explosives, firecrackers and narcotics from across the border.

According to them, the increased vigilance has reportedly disrupted smuggling networks operating along the border area.

Chief of Rautahat police and Superintendent of Police (SP) Sitaram Rijal shared that they have strengthened coordination among the security agencies so as to maintain law and order as well as to ensure that voters can exercise their franchise rights without fear and intimidation. 

SP Rijal observed that security mechanisms in the district have become more robust and alert in the recent weeks. He added that seizures of illegally imported goods and tax-evaded items have notably increased.

Likewise, Chief of Area Police Office, Simraungadh, Police Inspector Krishnadev Prasad Sah informed that with the election-centric stricter border security measures in place, smuggling and illegal trade activities have noticeably come down.

According to him, there is a rise in arrests of individuals involved in illegal cross-border activities through unofficial routes, claiming that the crackdown has contributed in restoring a sense of security in the local community.

Meanwhile, the Area Police Office reported that in the last three months, four absconding convicts were nabbed, 18 cases were filed and four people were detained for possessing nearly 80 km marijuana. 

Likewise, police here also seized 46,000 tablets of narcotic drugs-hydrochloride during this period.

A meeting of the National Assembly (NA) today passed the Film Bill, 2081 BS. 

In the meeting, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, on behalf of Prime Minister and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Sushila Karki, tabled the bill, seeking its endorsement. 

NA Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal announced that the document was passed unanimously by the meeting.

The NA shall meet again at 12: 15 on Friday. 

Meanwhile, airing their views during a zero hour of the session, NA members wanted the government to ensure the conduct of the elections to the House of Representatives in a free, fair and impartial atmosphere. 

They urged the government to be serious about the possible security challenges for the elections. 

They also apprised the government of the cases of artificial shortage in the market and supplies of goods on black-market. 

The lawmakers also extended their tributes to the Tamakoshi bus accident that occurred in Ramechhap on Tuesday morning, resulting in 12 deaths and demanded proper compensation to the bereaved families and the free treatment for the injured.  They demanded the guarantee of road safety, too. 

Krishna Bahadur Rokaya, Padam Bahadur Pariyar, Bishnudevi Pudasaini, Ghanshyam Rijal, Renu Chand and Shree Krishna Shrestha were among those putting their views in the meeting.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that activities are underway to control corruption as it was the responsibility of the government.

Addressing the special program organized on the occasion of the 35th Establishment Day of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) here today, Prime Minister Karki mentioned that the government was active round the clock in order to maintain good governance by reducing and controlling corruption.

She also requested all to take the Gen Z movement organized on September 8 and 9 putting forth the demand of promotion of good governance and corruption control as the serious lesson.

The Prime Minister clarified that the incumbent government formed at the foundation of Gen Z movement has been forwarding overall governance reform activities including corruption control and making people feel about citizen-friendly administration with priority.

Sharing that the government has adopted austerity in public spending by halting the decisions that make unnecessary burden on the state treasury, PM Karki argued that the tendency of taking unwanted benefits and misusing state's resources has been discouraged. 

She opined that the government was sensitive to making essential services that are directly connected with citizens simple, smooth and affordable. 

Mentioning that the activity of preparing a 'roadmap of good governance' for the next government has reached the final phase, the Prime Minister underlined, "We have prepared a roadmap to build a sustainable base of good governance. We believe that the next government will work in this accordance."  

The role of the CIAA is significant to promote good governance and prevent corruption, she underscored, adding the government is in favour of making state's structures more professional and independent to make anti-corruption activities.

Stressing the need of adopting zero tolerance to corruption, Prime Minister Karki viewed that activities to prepare a second national policy as per United Nations Convention against Corruption have reached final-stage.

Prime Minister Karki made it clear that the government is centered on creating an election atmosphere so as to prevent the nation from seeing the possibility of an escalated crisis in the aftermath of Gen Z movement and to maintain peace and order in the country. 

The government going to be formed after the election is expected to take further measures to promote and establish good governance as per the spirit of Gen Z. 

More than 15 million ballot papers have been printed so far for the first-past-the-post (FPTP) category of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5. 

The printed ballot papers are for 175 electoral constituencies of 53 districts, according to the Election Commission. 

The EC said that the printed ballots papers are for Dolpa, Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Humla, Jajarkot, Dailekh, Rukum West, Salyan, Surkhet, Bajura, Achham, Bajhang, Doti, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Baitadi, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Panchthar, Ilam, Tehrathum, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Sunsari, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, Khotang, Dhankuta, Baglung, Gulmi, Jhapa, Gorakha, Myagdi, Parbat, Bardghat Susta East (Nawalparasi), Morang, Udaypur, Mustang, Lamjung, Syangja and  Bardiya among others. 

These ballot papers have already been packed and packed boxes number 13,321.  The printing has been continuous since the morning of January 30.

Currently, 1,000 boxes of ballot papers are being packed daily, while printing ranges between 1.3 million and 1.5 million ballot papers per day.

It is said that the EC requires printing over 20 million (total 20,323,000) ballot papers for the HoR direct election. 

The printing of ballot papers has been underway at the Janak Education Materials Centre, Sanothimi since January 6. In the first phase, over a million (total 1,098,200) sample ballot papers were printed and distributed to various districts.

Meanwhile, under the proportional representation of the electoral system, over 20 million (total 20,830,000) ballot papers have been printed, packed and verified. They are now ready for dispatch.