Kathmandu, December 31:

As people plan to welcome 2006 this evening, Valley Police has heightened the security at major hubs of Kathmandu Valley.

“Considering the movement of people at night and gatherings at major hubs of the capital, we have asked all police officers to be on round-the-clock duty in these areas,” Krishna Basnet, Deputy Inspector General of Police at the Valley Police Office(VPO), said.

When asked if additional force had been mobilised, Basnet said that additional police teams were on stand-by, but not on active duty. “They will be mobilised only if any untoward incident takes place,” he added.

According to the Valley Police Office, some Ward Police Offices, including those at Thamel, Durbarmarg, Janasewa and Beneshwor have been asked to mobilise all their manpower to avert possible crimes in these areas.

Cases of stealing, hooliganism and brawls are common during these occasions as people consume high amount of alcohol.

VPO said that the traffic police too had been alerted to be on active duty on such major hubs in the town throughout the night on the New Year-eve. “Usually, traffic police officers are off duty after 8 pm, except at some places,” an official at the VPO said.