KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 30

Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, has chalked out a special security plan to ensure safety of lives and property during Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath festivals.

Senior Superintendent of Police Ashok Singh, MPR in-charge, said security arrangements were focused on preventing any untoward incident in the capital and facilitating people to head to their destinations without any fear. All metropolitan police circles, sectors and units have been directed to implement the security plan from their respective places. 'The special security plan aims to address the potential security threats during the festive season,' he informed.

'A minimum of 3,302 cops, both in uniform and civvies, have been deployed in Kathmandu,' he said.

Incidents of social crime, theft, rape, human trafficking, gambling, pick-pocketing, bootlegging, alcohol abuse, drugging and robbing, gambling, gang fight and black-marketing are likely to increase during the festive season.

'We have made arrangements for five escorting, 36 cordon and search operation, 22 ambushing and surveillance and 46 cross-checking teams to curb crime,' he said. The security arrangements range from the use of sniffer dogs to patrolling. Police personnel have been deployed on foot, cycles, motorcycles and vehicle patrols in a bid to ensure strict enforcement of the security plan.

Police have also stepped up security checks at major squares, transits and outskirts of the city.

Police will also give priority to temple security, food monitoring, checking import and illicit use of fire crackers, lottery scams and trafficking of small arms, in addition to keeping an eye on the movement of VIPs, vital installations, government offices, banks and financial institutions and marketplaces during Dashain holidays by adopting intelligence-based strategy. Major market areas of Kalanki, Thapathali, Bagbazar, Bhrikutimandap, Gaushala, Chabahil, Koteshwor, Gongabu, Balaju, Teku, Tripureshwor and Maharajgunj, where the trading of goats takes place during Dashain, will be under police vigilance.

A number of Quick Response Teams, mobile units, sniffer dogs and reserve units have been increased to curb incidents of theft, according to MPR. During Dashain and Tihar festivals, around four million that accounts for almost half of the valley's total population leave for their respective home districts.

Thieves target unattended houses during the festive season.

Earlier, traffic police had announced special security arrangements to manage valley traffic and prevent road accidents during the festive season in a systematic manner.

According to Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, cops armed with breathalysers will be deployed inside and outside the Ring Road in more than 65 places, with special focus on the entry points to the valley to catch any one driving under the influence. Cases of traffic offences increase during the festive season. A version of this article appears in the print on October 1 2021, of The Himalayan Times.