The Ministry of Home Affairs as per the Election Security Plan had made arrangements for security of candidates in view of the poll-opposing parties´ plan to intensify anti-election activities. But following the assault on UML candidate, MoHA has decided to provide fool-proof security to candidates and also strengthen security in high risk areas.[break]
A meeting held at MoHA in the presence of Home Minister Madhav Ghimire, representatives from security agencies on Friday, also decided to step up security in areas near the border.
Joint Secretary Shankar Prasad Koirala, who is also the spokesperson for MoHA, said, “We request all the candidates and political parties to work in coordination with the local security bodies and to carry out election related activities without fear.”
The Election Commission (EC) as well as the political parties have expressed serious concern over the attack on UML candidate and sought a thorough investigation.
Issuing a statement, EC has also asked the government to make fool-proof security arrangement for election candidates.
A team of Central Investigation Bureau under the leadership of SP Ishwor Babu Karki has already begun investigation into the attack, said Koirala.
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal, Bidhyadevi Bhandari among others, had reached the hospital to enquire about Alam´s health condition.
UML Secretary Yuba Raj Gyawali said, “The attack is an act of total cowardice. All the political parties, leaders, people and the international community should stand together to hold the election successfully,” he added.
According to the police headquarters, candidates fear possible attack and that it has been receiving a lot of requests for deployment of maximum number of security personnel and observers in the constituencies.
Top leaders from all major political parties -- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Madhes-based parties -- have already been provided personal security detail. But it would not be possible to provide security personnel to all the 6,352 candidates equally, said a police official.
During the 2008 CA election, each candidate was provided 10 security personnel.
The police headquarters said security personnel will be provided to candidates by the chief district officers after assessing security threat.
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