4,200 police personnel deployed for Maha Shivaratri security

Kathmandu, February 24 — The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has developed a security plan after analyzing the potential security challenges at the Pashupatinath Temple during the Maha Shivaratri festival.

Maha Shivaratri will be celebrated on the 14th of Falgun (February 26). The police have prepared a security plan to begin deployment of personnel from February 25. 

For the security of the Pashupatinath area in Kathmandu, a decision has been made to deploy 4,200 police officers under the command of the Superintendent of Police (SP).

The SP of Kathmandu District Police, Apil Raj Bohara, will oversee the security command. SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police) Shekhar Khanal of the Valley Police Office informed that police personnel will be deployed starting from Tuesday. He said, “We have implemented a security plan to deploy over 4,200 police officers in the Pashupatinath area.”

To ensure effective security management, the police have set up a command post within the Pashupatinath temple premises. The command post will be monitored by SP Bohara, three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP), and four inspectors.

To prevent incidents of theft, robbery, and altercations, 40 plainclothes police officers will be deployed under the leadership of a DSP. Three shifts of police officers will be on duty throughout the Shivaratri period. Security personnel will be stationed at four gate entrances, including technical personnel.

The police will use metal detectors and drones for surveillance. SP Apil Bohara stated, “We will use drones to monitor and prevent any unwanted activities.”

A total of 7 DSPs will be deployed for crime control and traffic management during the Shivaratri period. Additionally, 89 inspectors will also be deployed during the festival.

 890 traffic police to be deployed

Traffic management during the festival will also be overseen by the SP.

SP Sanjay Raut of the Valley Traffic Police Office will be in charge of traffic management, as confirmed by SSP Khanal. He added, “We have implemented a security plan in which the SP will also be in charge of traffic management.”

A total of 890 traffic police officers will be deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow. Kathmandu Police will also livestream the activities in the Pashupatinath area on their official Facebook page.

SP Apil Bohara said, “We will broadcast the activities in the Pashupatinath area live through our office's Facebook page.”

Deployment of Armed Police Force and NID officers

To handle any security challenges that may arise during Maha Shivaratri, armed police and officers from the National Investigation Department (NID) will also be deployed.

As per the decision of the District Security Committee, 1,200 personnel from the Armed Police Force (APF) will be deployed.

Additionally, 150 security personnel from the National Investigation Department (NID) will be deployed for intelligence gathering, as informed by an official from the District Administration Office, Kathmandu.