Several districts in the Tarai have been reeling under an indefinite strike imposed 24 days ago by various agitating Madhes-based parties.Amid media reports about the crippling shortage of the items of daily needs because of the prolonged shutdowns, the police took the decision to escort the vehicles after deploying adequate security personnel on the highways.
"Acute scarcity of rice and lentils has been reported from some parts of the hill region. We hope the shortage will end within a few days," said the DIG Hemanta Bahadur Pal, head of the Operation Department at Police Headquarters.
According to the Nepal Police, it provided security to as many as 3,254 vehicles to reach their destinations with the support of Armed Police Force (APF). Fuel tankers, trucks filled with food and other items, passenger buses were escorted by security personnel stationed in their respective districts.
"Till date, we have not encountered any serious problems during escorting as we have the support of general public and entrepreneurs," said the DIG adding.
Till Sunday morning, 83 vehicles were escorted to Kathmandu. Likewise, security personnel accompanied 254 vehicles as they passed from eastern region to western region, and 159 vehicles as they crossed the western region to the eastern region. They also ensured safe passage for 163 vehicles that entered Nepal via Biratnagar customs and headed toward different destinations.
The police also escorted 270 vehicles from Birgunj customs to different places.
Some passenger buses and containers that were stranded in some towns in the Tarai districts were also escorted to their respective destinations.
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