Biratnagar, September 4:

Home Ministry Secretary Umesh Prasad Mainali today said that the government would provide four security personnel to each candidate of the constituent assembly polls for security if necessary.

Speaking at a seminar on eastern regional election security here today, Mainali said: “If any threat is given to a candidate and if he/she demands security, the government will provide up to four security personnel to the candidate,” Mainali said, adding: “The government has also made a provision of security management for the publicity, gatherings, rallies and victory rallies of the political parties.”

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that the government has adopted a new security strategy keeping in mind the CA polls. Some 76,000 persons will be recruited as temporary policemen, he said.

All the displaced police posts will be reinstated by mid-September, Mainali said, adding that the armed police base camps will be established in all the 240 constituencies in the country and armed police forces will be deployed in all district headquarters. Home Ministry officials accused the political parties of not helping the ministry in the works related to security.

“We are unhappy with the political parties as they are not helping the Ministry,” Mainali said.

Stating that the parties have to help security bodies in difficult times, Mainali said: “The government is planning to form a peace committee to coordinate between the civil society, political parties and security bodies.” Election commissioner Usha Nepal said the number of security personnel should be increased as per the number of booths. Altogether 2,154 booths will be established in the eastern region for the polls.

It was informed that the government was soon planning to introduce a law to punish those who obstruct national and link roads.