Kathmandu/Biratnagar, June 3

The government has stepped up security in eastern hill districts, particularly in Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur, to deal with the increased threat posed by the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal.

Nepal Police Spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Bishwaraj Pokharel told THT that his office used Nepali Army helicopters today to send additional security forces to Solukhumbu district in an attempt to reinforce police deployment in the district as demanded by the District Security Committee.

Spokesperson for Nepali Army Bigyan Dev Pandey said the army provided a helicopter from its Itahari unit to Nepal Police after the home ministry requested the same.

Pokharel said police had also used helicopters to send additional security personnel to Bhojpur district two days ago. “We are ready to deploy additional police in the hill districts as demanded by the District Security Committee,”

Pokharel said. He added that the DSC should offer convincing reasons for additional deployment of security forces for search operation or patrol.

Reinforcement of security personnel in Solukhumbu district came amid media reports that police personnel deployed at Chheskam Police Post at Ward 3 of Mahakulung Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu had fled the post last night fearing attack by Chand-led outfit’s cadres.

Both Nepal Police and CPN, however, refuted the report.

The Chand-led outfit issued a press release saying it had no plan to attack security bodies.

CDO of Solukhumbu Narendra Kumar Rana and Chairperson of Mahakulung Rural Municipality Sagar Kirati denied reports that claimed CPN cadres attempted to attack Chheskam Police Post.

Rana said the administration beefed up security in the district as CPN had stepped up illegal activities of late.

Mahakulung Rural Municipality has dense forest that touches three districts – Bhojpur, Khotang and Sankhuwasabha.

Rana said his administration had started search in the areas.

Rana said the areas of Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur where CPN had increased its activities were remote and not easily accessible.

Kirati said the district administration had increased vigilance in the past 15 to 20 days after it received reports of increased activities of the outlawed outfit.

Security sources told THT that police personnel deployed at Chheskam Police Post fled the post after receiving intelligence that armed CPN cadres were in the village and were planning to attack the post.

Meanwhile, CPN today said the news that its cadres were trying to attack a police post in Solukhumbu district was falsely spread by the government with the motive of attacking its cadres in the eastern part of the country.

Security sources said the Chand-led outfit was planning to avenge the death of its cadre Tirtha Raj Ghimire in Bhojpur. Ghimire was shot at by police in Bhojpur on May 21 when a police team deployed by Provincial Police Office, Biratnagar, carried out search operation in Maiyung area of Bhojpur district. He died while undergoing treatment at BPKIHS in Dharan.

Police had received information that an armed group of 20 to 22 CPN cadres were hiding in the area. Other members of the group had fled towards Solukhumbu on May 21.

Security sources said the same group might have attempted to attack the police post in Solukhumbu last night. Rana said it was possible for armed groups to enter Solukhumbu as border areas were densely forested.