By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Sept. 17: Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari, is all set to implement a special security plan from September 21 to ensure safety and security to the people and their property during the upcoming Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath festivals.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shailesh Thapa Kshetri, chief of the Metropolitan Police Office, the headquarters of the Kathmandu Valley-based Metropolitan police offices, said the office was preparing a security plan targeting the festivals to avert any untoward incidents and help people head to their destinations without any iota of fear.

“This week, we are all busy preparing plans and executing security measures targeting the Constitution Day that falls on September 20 (Asoj 3) and from the next day, we will launch festival centric special security plan in the valley,” DIG Thapa said.

All police units will be directed to implement the security plan from their respective places.

These security arrangements range from the use of sniffer dogs to patrolling.

Meanwhile, chief and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Uttam Raj Subedi of the Metropolitan Police Range (MPR) Kathmandu, said, “The MPR will extend all necessary support to the metropolitan police circles and sectors to combat crimes.”

Over 3,700 cops, both in uniform and civvies, would be deployed in Kathmandu, he said.

“Incidents of theft, rape, human trafficking, pickpocketing, drug abusing and robbery, gambling, gang fight and black-marketing are among the crimes likely to increase during the festive season, and we have made required security arrangements to tackle them,” Subedi said.

Security personnel will be deployed on foot, cycle, motorcycle and vehicle patrolling; seal and search; cordon and search; picketing; ambushing and vigilance; and cross-checking, he added.

Police have also stepped up security checks at major junctions and the outskirts of the city. The police have a strategy to divide police’s work areas into various sub groups such as temple security, food monitoring, checking import and illicit use of fire crackers, lottery scams and trafficking of small arms, among others.

Major market areas of Kalanki, Thapathali, Bagbazaar, Bhrikutimandap, Gaushala, Chabahil, Koteshwor, Gongabu, Balaju, Teku, Tripureshwor and Maharajgunj, where the trade of goats is rampant during Dashain, will also be under police vigilance.

The number of Quick Response Teams, mobile units, dog sniffing and reserve units will be increased, said the Kathmandu Police.

During Dashain and Tihar festivals, almost half of the valley population of around four million leave for their respective home districts.

Thus, according to the police, the thieves target unattended houses during the festivals.

Police would also keep vigil on the movement of VIPs, vital installations, government offices, transit points of Kathmandu, banks and financial institutions and marketplaces during Dashain holidays by adopting an intelligence-based strategy.
Kathmandu Police hoped that this year less criminal and social offensive incidents are expected as the police have intensified its police-community partnership programmes.