Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya has expressed concern over the rise in smuggling in the border districts of the province.

He said that smuggling is flourishing in the border district as the morale of security personnel has dropped after the Gen-G agitation on Bhadra 23 and 24. He said that smuggling is rampant in the border district. 'Smuggling control is necessary,' speaking at the Lumbini provincial-level security meeting that began in Bhairahawa on Tuesday morning, he said, 'Security personnel deployed to control smuggling are being attacked. Smuggling is being carried out by harassing security personnel.' He said that the forcible transportation of goods by evading customs in the border district should be stopped. 'Smuggling is still being carried out by attacking security personnel in the district, which is lowering morale.' He said that the security chief should be serious about this issue. 'If we do not take legal action against the anarchic group, there will be no environment where the people will feel safe,' he said. 'Looted weapons and people escaping from prison are walking around with their chests puffed up. This has not been able to boost the morale of security personnel and employees.' He said that the Home Minister and subordinate bodies should be alert in this regard.