Rajbiraj, November 30

Chief District Officer of Saptari Bhagirath Pandey today said security agencies had taken the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal as the biggest threat to security in the run-up to the second phase of provincial and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 7.

Saptari DAO considers CPN as the biggest threat because the Chand-led outfit has increased armed activities across the country and its two cadres were arrested in Saptari on Tuesday for allegedly planning to explode an RDX laden pressure cooker bomb targeting a house in Rajbiraj. Pandey said at least two candidates had asked the DAO to provide security in the run-up to the election.

Pandey said although there was no security threat in the recently held local level elections and no clashes were reported, security agencies were, however, alert to ensure security in the face of the CPN’s increased armed activities.

He said security personnel were mindful of the CPN’s possible attempt to infiltrate from Udaypur district.

“We need to be vigilant also because we share 78 kilometres of open border with India and wrong elements can always misuse the border to smuggle weapons into the district to create terror in the run-up to the election,” he added.

Pandey said security personnel were more vigilant in Saptari also because Saptari had always been in the forefront of Madhes movement.  Chief District Officer Pandey said some criminal elements could also pose challenge during elections. SP Singh said security personnel had categorised districts as highly sensitive and sensitive on the basis of various factors, including intelligence, past incidents and overall security threat.