Incident Reports

Security beefed up as statute promulgation nears

2015-08-16

Bagmati, Kathmandu, Kathmandu

With the constitution-making entering into its final stage, the government has tightened the security of key political leaders closely involved in the process and deployed additional forces around some vital places such as CA building in Baneshwar. The government has recently deputed additional forces to the security details of chairman of the Constituent Assembly (CA) and other political leaders sensing security threats as constitution promulgation date draws closer. Major political parties have announced to deliver a new constitution by the end of August.

Ministry of Home Affairs took the decision to beef up the security of some leaders and important sites based on the assessment of threats carried out in the presence of the Nepal Army, the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the National Investigation Department (NID). As the key person overseeing the entire constitution-making process, the security agencies have given special attention to the security of CA Chairman Subas Nembang. "We have made necessary arrangements for CA chair's security, which includes the deployment of adequate plainclothesmen," said Kamal Singh Bam, a deputy inspector general and spokesperson of the Nepal Police. The number of security personnel for his convoy, at his residence, along the routes he travels and even within the CA premises has been increased, he said adding. As protests have been growing both in and outside the CA building, the number of demonstrators has also been swelling at New Baneshwar area. The security agencies expect the number of demonstrators in the area to grow drastically as the date for promulgating the new constitution approaches, DIG Bam said, adding that reserve forces might be called in to take positions if the need arises.

District Administration Office (DAO) said that as part of its strategy to tighten the security of important sites it is prepared to used barbed wires and barricades to ward off protesters. "We will widen the restricted area near Singha Durbar, the prime minister's residence at Baluwatar, the president's office at Shital Niwas and other sensitive areas and boost the presence of security personnel at various places if required," said the Kathmandu CDO Ek Narayan Aryal. Security forces would be placed on high alert round the clock and VIPs will be kept under close watch to prevent any untoward incident during and after the constitution, CDO Aryal added.

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