Kathmandu, March 27:

The government has beefed up security in the valley and outside to control the ‘infiltration of Maoists’ in a series of protest programmes of the seven political parties scheduled for next week.

“Definitely the security measures have been stepped up after the understanding (between the Maoists and political parties) has been reached, and there can be terrorist infiltration during the movement,” Krishna Basnet, the Additional Inspector General of Police at the Valley Police Office told The Himalayan Times.

According to him, the police force has been monitoring people arriving the Kathmandu valley in recent days as a part of steps taken for controlling the Maoists’ movement here. “We are in close contact with the hotel and lodge owners and collecting information on people staying there,” Basnet added.

Apart from requesting motorcycle riders not to carry a pillion rider, security checks and patrols have also been increased both in the valley and in those vehicles traveling on long route to “ensure the laws and orders are maintained.”

Informed sources say that the authority concerned is currently discussing and rehearsing if the cell-phone service can be blocked again for few days. “Activities of the leaders are also being monitored,” added the source.

“Since we found that the Maoists are using motorbikes for conducting violent activities, we have requested people to avoid pillion riding. We expect assistance from people,” said Gopendra Bahadur Pandey, the spokesperson at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The rule to avoid pillion riding on a motorcycle, said Pandey, “would be in place till April 12, which is being done for the security of civilians.”

He accepted that the security arrangements to have been “intensified”, but did not elaborate on the steps being taken with an aim to control Maoists infiltration in the seven-party-alliance protest programmes as well as to foil the general strike called by them.

However, security sources say that security forces are to be massively deployed across the country in their efforts to foil the general strike called for four consecutive days from Chaitra 24 to 27.

Armoured Personnel Carrier (APCs), Ferret Cars and Mine Protected Vehicles may be mobilised while the senior officers of all security wings — Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal Police and National Investigation Department — are meeting reguarly ‘neutralise the anticipated problems’. “Army is committed for the sake of peace and protection of citizens of the country. The RNA has been told to act remaining within the legal framework of the Constitution for anything that comes under MoD,” said the RNA spokesperson Brigadier General Nepal Bhusan Chand, when THT had asked him if the RNA was prepared for the upcoming protest programmes and general strike.