Good job

The Special Security Plan (SSP), which has come into operation recently, has begun to produce results: The police have nabbed chiefs of two criminal groups that were operating under the cover of either politics or religion. The home administration, especially the police, deserves kudos for nabbing Ram Prasad Mainali, the chief of underground outfit Nepal Defense Army (NDA), and Binod Pandey, head of the another clandestine armed group, Ranabir Sena.



The NDA had carried out scores of bombings during the last few years, killing at least seven people and threatening religious harmony. The explosions carried out by the NDA at Assumption Church in Lalitpur on May 22, 2009, and at a mosque in Biratnagar on March 29, 2008, were clearly aimed at destabilizing social harmony. Three people had died in each of these bombings. Police had intensified hunt for Mainali after the blasts and Interpol, at the behest of Nepal Police, had even issued a Red Corner Notice against him. Ranabir Sena was also deeply involved in extortion, blasts and other criminal activities in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari and Kathmandu.



Arresting these criminals is one thing but slapping them the punishment they deserve from the court of law is another thing. This is not the first time that Mainali has been arrested – he was nabbed along with arms three years ago but was later on released on bail by the court. He intensified his criminal activities after the release, perhaps self-assured that getting out of jail wasn’t a big deal. This time around Mainali and Pandey should not escape justice. The police should prepare a strong case, fully backed with evidence and the court should also understand the consequences of these criminals once again walking free.



The police have arrested the chiefs of just two criminal groups but by the home administration’s own admission, there are over 109 armed groups operating in the country, which only indicates the enormity of the challenge that lies ahead for the law enforcement agencies. But the security agencies have shown promise early on after the implementation of the SSP and privately they exude confidence that given a full support and less interference from the political leadership, they can get the job done.



Home Minister Bhim Rawal has so far shown determination to keep security agencies free from political interference and has dealt with law and order cases involving political cadres with full impartiality. We encourage him to stay the course and urge all the political parties to cooperate with him and law enforcement agencies. If the state fails to wipe out the criminal groups this time, we will be in a state of anarchy for a long time.

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