Rupandehi, September 3:

Security on Mahendra and Siddhartha Highways has been tightened in the wake of the serial blasts in Kathmandu.

Deputy superintendent of police at the Butwal area police office Jagat Man Shrestha said security has been stepped up on highways, crossings, bus parks, and all other public places in Butwal.

Police patrolling has been intensified at all such places, said DSP Shrestha, adding that police teams under the command of sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors are keeping round-the-clock vigil.

Meanwhile, Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hisila Yami met senior police officials at Butwal and discussed security arrangements.

Yami, inaugurating the office of Nayasambad national weekly in Palpa today, blamed the royalists for their “involvement in the serial bomb blasts in the capital”, a report from Palpa said.

Inaugurating the first Palpa district conference of the Newa Rastriya Mukti Morcha, Yami said the Maoists are fully committed to holding the CA polls.

A report from Pokhara said security has been tightened in Kaski district. Chief district officer of Kaski Bhola Prasad Shivakoti told this daily that security checks are being carried out in hotels, vehicles and on all suspicious-looking persons.

Aside from stepping up security on the highway, the police have been given the authority to check and frisk any person they deem suspicious. Western region administrator Rudra Prasad Poudel said special security arrangements have been made in the region since yesterday. Security is at the highest level in Bhairahawa, he added.

DSP at the western regional police office Dipendra Bahadur Bista said that police are on alert in the entire region immediately after the blasts. Armed police and personnel of the National Investigation Department are also keeping vigil, according to DIGP Bista. Bista also issued a call to the people to assist the police and security agencies in identifying suspicious persons and preventing untoward incidents. Police posts have been set up at various places in the district, Bista further said.

Our Tanahun correspondent reports that security has been tightened in the district. Tanahun CDO Kashinath Marasini said police patrolling has been intensified.