A state of high alert has been sounded along the 84 km-long Indo-Nepal border in the district in the wake of the volatile situation in the Himalayan kingdom, a senior official said on Sunday.

"A high alert has been sounded at the borders and a strict vigil is being maintained," deputy inspector general, range, D B Buxi said adding that directives have been issued to security agencies to keep watch on the movement of people to and from Nepal.

Five persons, allegedly belonging to the Maoist outfit in Nepal, had recently been nabbed soon after they intruded into the district, he said adding, a truck carrying arms and ammunition has also been seized recently on the border.

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Keeping in view the Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh and Bihar, security arrangements have been tightened at the armoury in the police lines as also in the jails, he said.

The DIG said a strict watch was being kept on the Gorakhpur-Bhairahwa (Nepal) road which passed through Sonauli to monitor the movement of suspected Maoist elements. Besides the civil police, 11 battalions of the Special Security Bureau have also been deployed at 10 security checkposts along the international border.

The district police have sought the help of the Interpol to nab 21 criminals who were suspected to be hiding in Nepal after committing crimes in Gorakhpur region, he said. An extensive network of informants had been laid in the villages along the borders, Buxi added.

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