Security Tightened in Kathmandu Ahead of Former King Gyanendra Shah's Arrival Amidst Political Tensions

Kathmandu. Former King Gyanendra Shah is arriving in Kathmandu today from Jhapa. Supporters of the former king have made preparations to welcome him at the airport. The United People's Movement Committee led by Navaraj Subedi has called for a grand welcome by gathering at Tribhuvan International Airport at 12 PM.

Shah is scheduled to land at Tribhuvan International Airport via a Kailash helicopter. Assessing that unruly activities might occur during the royalists' welcome program, potentially impacting the elections scheduled for Falgun 21, the District Security Committee has decided to tighten security arrangements. In accordance with the Security Committee's decision, the District Police Range Kathmandu has formulated a security plan and deployed security personnel.

According to the security plan, twenty Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) will be deployed along the route from Tribhuvan International Airport to Nirmal Niwas. The field command will be handled by SP Pawan Bhattarai of the District Police Range Kathmandu.

The District Administration Office Kathmandu has imposed a prohibitory order (curfew) in the area inside the Golden Gate of Tribhuvan International Airport. The District Administration Office stated that the prohibitory order will be effective for one month starting from Falgun 1. SP Pawan Bhattarai stated that entry into the area under the prohibitory order will be strictly controlled. He said, 'We will not allow entry inside the airport; we will mobilize maximum manpower for crowd management outside.'

Bhattarai mentioned that the security strategy will be changed based on the size of the crowd. SSP Ramesh Thapa from the command post at the District Police Range Kathmandu in Bhadrakali and Kathmandu's Chief District Officer Ishwaraj Paudel will command the security personnel.

Security officials stated that the security plan has been implemented under the monitoring of AIG Ishwar Karki of the Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari, for overall mobilization and management.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), the United People's Movement Committee led by Navaraj Subedi, and the Great Campaign to Save the Nation, Nationality, Religion, Culture, and Citizens led by Durga Prasai have called for people to attend the welcome ceremony for the former king.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden has objected to the prohibitory order imposed around the airport. He stated, 'Is the prohibitory order meant to prevent the election from being disrupted, or is it intended to disrupt the election itself?' He questioned who would obey a prohibitory order if constitutional provisions are used arbitrarily.