A day after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) directed all local security bodies and local administrations to step up security and ensure the safety of candidates, candidates from more than 20 districts have requested the local authorities to beef up their personal security details. [break]
According to MoHA sources, candidates from different districts, mainly in the Tarai, have urged the district security committees to deploy more personnel for their personal security, along with mobile escorts.
According to Joint-secretary Shankar Prasad Koirala, who is also spokesperson at MoHA, the government is ready to provide fail-safe security to candidates and is working to strengthen security at highly sensitive and sensitive areas.
He said, “All candidates and political parties are requested to coordinate with the district security committee about any visits, election related programs and other activities.” The district security committees have requested the candidates to inform the security authorities about any places they are visiting during the election campaign, the persons they meet and if they are to leave their respective districts, he added.
Under-secretary Uddav Bhattarai, deputy spokesperson of MoHA, said, “Most of the candidates have been centered on the district headquarters as of now and demands for additional security can be expected from other candidates and districts as well.” We are in contact with all districts round the clock, so there will not be any delay or negligence in case additional support from the central level is needed, he said.
Regional security seminars, which are underway, will also help security agencies and the election-related authorities to strengthen security arrangements across the country, according to Joint-secretary Koirala. The seminars are expected to identify groups or persons that are a threat to candidates or to political parties and suggest security measures accordingly, the ministry stated.
A team from the Central Investigation Bureau under SP Ishwor Babu Karki is intensifying investigations into the attack on UML candidate Alam, said Koirala. According to preliminary investigations, the assailants used a motorbike with an Indian number plate and fled towards the Indian border after the attack. He told local reporters, “We are yet to find the reason for the attack and any kingpin behind it.”
Alam´s condition deteriorating: Docs
Doctors treating Mohammad Alam, who is under ventilator at Maharajgunj-based TUTH, on Saturday informed that his condition was deteriorating.
According to Dr Subash Acharya, in-charge of the ICU ward at TUTH, blood had congealed on the right side of the patient´s head and as a result the brain is slightly swollen. They have removed the blood clots but the brain is not showing improvement although minute brain movements remain, he said.
According to doctors, Alam´s respiratory system is functioning but eye corneal reflection is not functioning. The blood pressure was normalized till late evening because of medication. Alam, who is in coma at ICU No. 2, was inspected by neurologist Dr Upendra Devkota. A team of doctors comprising Gopal Sedhain, Pramesh Shrestha and Gentle Shrestha along with Acharya have been treating him.
Chief of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi also visited the hospital to learn about Alam´s condition.
Meanwhile, the government has pledged to bear all expenses for the treatment.
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