Alipurduar, April 19 -- In view of the first phase of the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Bhutan's Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a notification announcing the closure of key entry gates along the India-Bhutan border from April 20 to April 23.
According to the notice, three Bhutanese enatry points adjacent to Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri-Phuentsholing, Samtse and Lhamoizingkha-will remain closed during this period. Movement of civilians and tourists through these gates will be suspended from 5 pm on April 20 to 6 pm on April 23.
In previous elections in West Bengal, such cross-border restrictions were typically enforced only on the day of polling.
However, Bhutanese authorities have not specified any reason for imposing the closure two days prior to voting on this occasion.
Consequently, all forms of cross-border movement through the affected routes will remain suspended during the election period.
Meanwhile, a separate notification has been issued by the District Magistrate of Alipurduar, restricting movement along the Bhutan border on polling day.
Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Shah stated that the decision to seal the border was taken jointly by both countries to ensure free and peaceful elections.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.