Govt boasts of effective security arrangements

Kathmandu, June 5

The government has enforced a comprehensive security system to combat highway crimes and road obstructions throughout the country, according to a report.

A report released by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers stated that quick response teams and immediate response teams of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force were deployed on highways to initiate immediate action against any persons or groups involved in various crimes, including obstruction of vehicular movement.

The security strategy aims to tackle protests and strikes that various groups held on highways to pressure the government to address their demands.

The strategy also aims to prevent theft, robbery, loot, extortion and kidnapping of passengers. The security arrangement is also meant to prevent arson, vandalism and blast of vehicles, and hit-and-run cases.

The security agencies will also clear highways during disasters like earthquake, flood and landslide. The report said all transit points of Kathmandu valley and strategic places were under the surveillance of 416 CCTV cameras.

The visual technology has been acting as a third eye of law enforcement officers in areas where manual policing is not always possible.

It claimed that CCTVs have been an effective tool to deter criminals from committing crimes, thereby strengthening security system.

The report stated that as many as 87 border outposts were operating to ensure border security. The security units will also deal with cross-border crimes and revenue leakage.

In yet another move to bolster security situation, the government has expanded police units to all 753 local levels, as part of restructuring and mobilising Nepal Police, in line with the federal setup. With this, all local levels have come under the coverage of national security system.

According to the report, at least 4,400 personnel of Nepal Police have been mobilised across the country for vehicle patrol while 7,300 personnel have been mobilised for foot patrol, on a daily basis.

More than 3,400 police personnel have been conducting security checks in designated places. Over 6,400 police personnel have been mobilised for picket duty.