Biratnagar, August 30:

The chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), Ian Martin, today said that a proper poll atmosphere is yet to be created in Sunsari, Siraha and Saptari districts in the Tarai region.

Before returning to Kathmandu after acquiring information on the security arrangements and the poll atmosphere in Morang and Sunsari, Martin told a press meet here that except for the above-named three districts, poll preparations and atmosphere were building up effectively in the other districts. He advised the government to hold talks with groups waging armed struggle in the region to ameliorate the situation.

“The atmosphere in these three districts is not conducive to holding the CA polls there. The situation is fragile. The government should take steps to defuse it,” Martin said, adding that the polls could either be held at one go in these three districts or truncated into two phases, with polling done in trouble spots later.

Martin also advised the government to hold talks with Madhesi groups in all those districts where the poll atmosphere has not built up yet. He urged the political parties to speed up the pace of their campaigning for the polls and also urged the security agencies to take action against criminals and law-breakers.

Martin also said the agitating groups should refrain from breaking the law or indulging in anti-national activities. He also urged security forces not to resort to use of excessive force.

He further said that heads of security agencies had informed him that they would be able to manage the polls in 58 districts without any hitch.