A joint survey team of Nepal and India has started surveillance of the border in eastern Nepal to curb terrorist activities and smuggling of weapons and drugs, official sources said, on Wednesday. The team, comprising officials from both countries, is initially collecting information about people living in border areas of Jhapa and Morang districts of eastern Nepal, chief district officer, Morang, Dolakh Bahadur Gurung said.
The two countries are trying to gather information about any impending terrorist attack by the Maoist rebels of Nepal or the naxalites of India, he said. ''The illegally built houses and huts in the no man's land are being destroyed on both sides of the border,'' Mr Gurung said. The team will also rebuild border pillars.
The decision to form the joint survey team was taken at a meeting of officials of the two countries about two weeks ago in the Indian side of the border. Local officials of both countries meet regularly to keep in check the activities at the border.
India and Nepal, which share cultural, religious and social relations, also share more than 1,800 km-long open border.
Bureau Report