Kathmandu, September 2

Nepal Police said security had been stepped up to maintain law and order before and during the third phase of civic polls scheduled for September 14 in eight districts of Province 2.

According to a source, the security agency has assessed the potential threat that CK Raut group, Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist and various armed groups could pose to the election process in the Tarai. The government is set to deploy 26,098 personnel from Nepal Police in addition to Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department for foolproof security of 3,567 polling centres.

“Despite the decision of Madhes-based parties, including Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal, to participate in the elections, threat from CK Raut group, CPN-Maoist and other armed groups like Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh and Goit) cannot be ruled out. In this context, the government mist make more efforts to ensure that elections are held in a peaceful manner,” said the source, adding that potential cross-border crimes were another expected threat to the polls.

Police informed that as many as 407 activists of CK Raut group were arrested from various parts of the country, mainly the Tarai, over a period of few months for allegedly posing threat to internal security. Of them, 105 have been facing various charges while 407 were released after investigation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also identified a long list of sensitive areas in the third phase of local level elections and said security was stepped up to prevent anti-election elements from creating disturbance during before, during and after the polls.

Like in first phase of elections as per the security plan, Nepal Police personnel will be deployed inside the polling centres while NA and APF personnel will man the second and the outermost ring respectively.

Arrangements of micro-observers and additional security forces have also been made for the polls. Security forces deployed for poll security will be authorised to open fire on any person or group resorting to violence.