Tikapur and nearby areas of Kailali district removed from list of riot-hit zones

Kathmandu, September 24

The National Defence Council today asked all security bodies to come up with an integrated security strategy to ensure smooth supply of daily commodities and revive the stagnated economy and social life across the country, mainly in the Tarai, following the promulgation of new constitution.

In today’s meeting of the NDC headed by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, chiefs of all security bodies — Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department — briefed the PM about the latest security situation in the country and put forth their views for way ahead to reactivate government offices, retain police presence and revive economic and social life, following the recent violence in Tarai districts.

Home Secretary Surya Silwal, who presented an overview of the security in the earlier days of protests and now, told THT that the NDC directed the concerned security bodies to come up with an integrated work-plan to execute the aforementioned tasks effectively.

The meeting was mainly concerned about ending the ongoing strife in several parts of Tarai districts and ensure smooth supplies of essential commodities and goods, as major festivals were approaching, Defence Secretary Ishwori Prasad Paudyal told THT.

According to Paudyal, the security agencies would prepare a work-plan and submit it at the next meeting of the NDC, which would endorse the plan.

Silwal said the prospect of deploying the Nepali Army at main supply routes like highways and sub-ways leading to the district headquarters to ensure smooth movement of cargo and passenger vehicles was discussed during the meeting.

The meeting also dwelt on whether to give security responsibility of all government offices in protest-hit districts to the army. However, no formal decision to this effect was taken, according to him. “Proposals were there on how we can ensure public safety, smooth supply of goods and revive confidence of public,” Silwal said. PM Koirala said political parties were making efforts to reach out to the agitating parties to revive normalcy.

Meanwhile, Tikapur and nearby areas of Kailali district have been removed from the list of riot-hit zones. The Nepali Army spokesperson Tara Bahadur Karki told THT that the army deployed to assist the police force following the April 24 killings would return to barracks after the District Security Council takes a decision to this effect.