While some of them were detained for breaching security measures adopted for the Wen visit, most others were rounded up on suspicion they were out to stage protests during the Chinese premier’s approximately five-hour sojurn in Kathmandu.[break]
“Most of them were arrested from various places in Kathmandu on suspicion they were out to stage protests,” informed SP Rajendra Shrestha, chief of Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, adding, “We arrested some of them for breaching security norms.”
Shrestha said it was a big challenge providing high-end security for Premier Wen. “The extra security measures and additional arrangements worked,” he added.
Similarly, police detained buses carrying 270 passengers, including Tibetans, at Jagati, Bhaktapur, but released them later, informed SSP Ravi Raj Shrestha, spokesperson at the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s Office.
Strict surveillance at border points, Thankot
Nepal Police had maintained strict surveillance since Friday night at major entry points to the Valley including Thankot.
“We were busy keeping track of the entry of Tibetans via Thankot till 5 a.m. Saturday,” said SP Shrestha. He added that Tibetans returning from Bodh Gaya were a big threat to security even if it was just a coincidence.
Police held 40 passenger buses from Thankot and escorted them to Boudha before releasing them at 8 a.m.
According to a knowledgeable source at Nepal Police, Tibetans were blocked at various entry points right from Friday. “Tibetans were also blocked at the northern border checkpoints of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading,” said the source.
Movement of Tibetans at Boudha, Swayambhu, Jawalakhel and other monastery sites was prevented while the Chinese premier was in town.
Security on escort routes
Nepal Police deployed 1,900 personnel including 200 in plainclothes to beef up security along the escort routes, according to sources.
A District Security Committee planned the security arrangements at 11:00 p.m., Friday and these were finalized by a meeting of high-level security officers from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, the National Investigation Department and the Armed Police Force at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Two routes -- from the airport to Singha Durbar via New Baneshwor and from Singha Durbar to Shital Niwas via Bhadrakali and Lazimpat-- were totally cleared.
No vehicular movement was allowed along the routes during the escorting. However, pedestrians were allowed to walk along the routes. The same route was used for the return to the airport.
The Nepal Army was deployed in core areas including during the welcoming and farewell at the VVIP bay at the airport. A Special Security Force unit of the Nepal Army that included a medical unit, Department of Military Intelligence personnel, a drugs unit and a bomb disposal team, was also mobilized.
“Approximately 2,500 army personnel were deployed for security during the visit,” said Ramindra Chettri, spokesperson of the Nepal Army.
Meanwhile, security personnel from the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force were also deployed for possible riot control and road clearance. Security personnel from all units maintained very good coordination during the five-hour visit, security sources said.
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