The government has instructed the security agencies to take strong measures to keep the highways and other vital instalations functioning come what may, while the protestors have been carrying out concentrated attacks along the East-West Highway, destroying bridges. The protestors haven't spared even ambulances and vehicles carrying medicines and other essential items.
Retired bureaucrats, security officials and other experts find the latest scenario extremely worrying as they feel that the approaches adopted by the government and the protesting sides may further exacerbate the situation and push the country into a vicious cycle of violence.
Stating that the situation has already taken a nasty turn, they emphasize finding an early political solution and state that without an agreement at the top political level, the security agencies alone may not be able to keep the situation under control.
"If the situation gets out of hand, it will not only disrupt supplies coming across the border but the country will have a hard time managing internal security," said former home secretary Govinda Kusum.
He argued that the government will be left with no alternative to hefty security deployment in the affected districts, leaving the ground porous for criminal activities in other areas.
"As law and order worsens, any part of Nepal might turn into a safe haven for international criminal groups," he said. "As European countries adopt a tight vigil on Syrian refugees, they may choose a country like Nepal as a comfortable zone, creating threats to neighboring countries including India," he said.
Former IGP Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan said the failure to make an actual threat assessment beforehand has cost the security forces dear, adding that the government should come up with a political and diplomatic settlement to end possible confrontation.
"Even as police try to act with restraint while restoring order, they will be compelled to use more force once mobs slip out of the grip of the Madhes-based parties," Pradhan said.
"I urge stakeholders to learn from the Kailali clash that left eight security personnel dead and plan strategies to keep losses to a minimum," he said.
Addressing a security meeting on Sunday, Home Minister Shakti Basnet instructed the security agencies to leave no stone unturned to clear the highways. He also instructed them to review the security modalities and deployment in the eight sensitive Madhes districts.
According to Home Ministry sources, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force among others briefed the minister on the security situation, the need for security strategy, special deployment for bridge security, and the need for prompt and written directions from the higher authorities in cases calling for immediate action. They complained of irresponsiveness by some CDOs during emergencies.
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