Kathmandu, December 5

Metropolitan Police Office has stepped up security to the highest level in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur for the second phase of provincial and parliamentary elections.

According to MPO, it has deployed around 8,000 police personnel in addition to temporary cops with major focus on sensitive areas to ensure that voting takes place in a free and fair manner at all polling centres designated by the Election Commission.

Police have anticipated sporadic violence before, during and after the elections and made security arrangements accordingly.

Senior Superintendent of Police Purna Chandra Joshi, MPO spokesperson, said security personnel led by senior officials were carrying out mobile patrolling, cordon and search operation; transit, hotel, lodge checking; ambushing, CCTV surveillance and intelligence gathering for foolproof security.

Various teams with sniffer dogs have also been mobilised in areas falling under the jurisdiction police ranges, circles and sectors by conducting micro analysis of potential incidents. “We have also deputed personal security officers for physical security of candidates,” he said. MPO has also made arrangements of special monitoring of security situation.

SSP Joshi said police personnel were directed to make their deployment more effective and result-oriented. Control Room Vehicles equipped with Global Positioning System have been deployed round-the-clock in around 100 places of the Valley which MPO said would act as a first responder if there is any untoward incident.

The Global Positioning System tracking devices help the police control room keep real-time tab on the Control Room Vehicles and track patrolling. Real-time tracking system also makes on-duty cops more accountable and responsible.

Officials stationed at the control room will be able to locate the Control Room Vehicles on computer screen and instruct them to reach the specified location to respond in case of any untoward incident. According to the MPO, three-tier security arrangements have been put in place. Nepal Police personnel and temporary cops will be deployed inside the polling centres while Armed Police Force and Nepali Army will look into the second and outermost ring respectively.