Patna: Along the open and deeply intertwined India-Nepal frontier, where families, markets and cultures spill seamlessly across boundaries, Bihar is stepping up efforts to strengthen security while transforming life in villages lining the border.Backed by the central govt, the Bihar govt has begun work on a range of initiatives in districts adjoining Nepal — from clearing illegal structures from the No Man’s Land to intensifying surveillance against fake currency, narcotics smuggling, infiltration and human trafficking.Stretching for more than 700km across seven districts of Bihar, the Nepal border remains one of the most socially connected yet administratively challenging frontiers in the country. Madhubani alone accounts for 286 inhabited villages along a 135-km stretch. Here, the often-repeated phrase “beti and roti ka rishta” reflects ties forged through marriages, trade and generations of shared living.But officials say the same openness also creates vulnerabilities.In recent weeks, chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit, DGP Vinay Kumar and personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) traveled through several border pockets, visiting villages, bustling local markets and railway stations to understand the realities on the ground.The visits were aimed not merely at reviewing security arrangements but also at identifying developmental gaps in remote settlements situated close to the international border.Amrit said work under the Vibrant Village Program was progressing and a detailed gap assessment had already been completed. Based on the findings, several developmental projects are now being initiated in the border regions.When asked about the nature of threats and challenges faced along the frontier, Amrit remained guarded.“Several things are confidential and cannot be shared,” he said.At the same time, he indicated that district magistrates, SPs and other officials posted in bordering districts had been instructed to remain alert and proactive.“This is the reason fake currency in huge quantity has been seized recently and sorting machines have been arranged in the banks on the border areas,” said Amrit, adding authorities were also planning to increase money exchange counters to make transactions easier for people living near the border.The concern over counterfeit currency has intensified in recent months. In April, 10 accused were arrested in Madhubani and counterfeit currency with a face value of Rs 18,500 in Indian notes and Rs 25 lakh in Nepali notes was seized. In Sitamarhi, officials recovered Rs 49 lakh in counterfeit Nepali currency along with Rs 20,100 in Indian notes during separate operations.For officers monitoring the frontier, fake currency remains only one layer of a far more complex challenge.The DGP spoke candidly about the realities of policing a porous border where geography, culture and kinship often blur conventional lines of enforcement.“You know that we have a relation of beti and roti with Nepal. There are villages or wards, a portion of which is in India and another in Nepal. We have a porous border and this is a challenge,” he said.He pointed towards the steady flow of narcotics, particularly smack and ganja, allegedly smuggled into India through Nepal.“There is a network and we are bursting the network. And when there is drugs, there comes the issue of illegal arms too,” said Kumar.Officials monitoring activities along the frontier also flagged concerns over cross-border smuggling routes being used by international networks. One official explained how Chinese entities allegedly use Nepal as a transit route to procure urea illegally from India. Similar concerns exist over the movement of contraband and illegal goods from other countries through Nepal into India.Unlike heavily fenced borders elsewhere, the India-Nepal boundary remains open, making surveillance dependent largely on intelligence gathering, local coordination and sustained vigilance.Fake currency, officials said, continues to evolve with technology.“With just a color printer, a fake currency can be made, though high quality fake currency is no more being made unlike earlier. Fake currency of both India as well as Nepal is seized during checks and raids. This is the reason sorting machines are being provided in the banks on the border areas to stop these currencies from entering the market,” said the DGP.Another challenge confronting security agencies is illegal infiltration.According to Kumar, an average of around 40 foreign nationals entering India illegally through the Nepal side are apprehended regularly.“Some of them enter the border by mistake and in case of people from America or Europe side, it is easy to figure them out, but those from Bangladesh or China, it is difficult as they look similar to Indians or Nepalis,” said the DGP.Asked specifically about infiltration from Bangladesh, he said the highest influx was witnessed during the 1970s after a devastating cyclone hit Bangladesh.“Now the figure is too meager,” he added.The DGP added the recent jail break during the Gen Z protest in Nepal led to the escape of several prisoners who later entered India. According to him, many of them were apprehended in Madhubani and Sitamarhi while allegedly involved in criminal activities. Recently, some of those escaped prisoners were also found involved in a crime in Vaishali’s Mahnar area.However, Vinay said the police, SSB and district administration were closely monitoring the situation and taking action against those involved in illegal activities in and around the border areas.
