Security Forces Intensify Surveillance on Key Leaders of CPN (Maoist Centre) Ahead of Elections

In anticipation of the elections scheduled for Falgun 21, security agencies have increased surveillance on the second-tier key leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre). Following the arrest of General Secretary Dharmendra Bastola, the police have become active in monitoring the top leaders who are currently running the party's activities.

The CPN (Maoist Centre), along with the Revolutionary Communist Party of Nepal, the Scientific Socialist Communist Party of Nepal, and the Communist Party of Nepal, under the Central Joint Struggle Committee, have adopted a policy of boycotting the elections, arguing that the elections announced by the government lack justification.  

As these groups adopted the policy of boycotting the elections, a meeting of the Central Security Committee, chaired by Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, decided to formulate an additional election-focused security strategy to ensure the peaceful completion of the elections. Heads of all four security agencies and high-ranking officials from the home administration participated in the meeting.

A high-ranking official informed that the meeting conducted a detailed review of the security situation regarding activities in various parts of the country during the election campaigning. It was reported that the conclusion was reached that security challenges might increase as the elections draw nearer, and a decision was made to create a robust and reliable law and order environment. A decision was also made to form a special reserve force ready for immediate mobilization if necessary.

According to security agencies, the parties and groups calling for an election boycott are emerging as the main challenges. Sources indicated that the committee including CPN (Maoist Centre) and Durga Prasai-led Citizen Protection Mahabhiyan were concluded to be challenges during the meeting.

General Secretary Bastola is currently in police custody. Security sources understand that after Bastola's arrest, the party's 'high command' is being managed by second-tier leaders. It is reported that the police are actively searching for and monitoring central leaders Gunaraj Lohani, Deepak Chalaune, and Narendra Bik for a long time.

Lohani is considered an intellectual leader emerging from the teachers' movement, while Chalaune is a former commander of the People's Liberation Army and the party's military department chief. Narendra Bik is known as an influential leader who came through the student movement and is active as the party's 'core planner'. Security agencies assess that these three leaders have been vigorously mobilizing party activities since Bastola's arrest.

Meanwhile, cadres of the Maoist Centre held effigy burnings of the Prime Minister and Home Minister on Falgun 10 and organized torch rallies on Falgun 12, demanding the release of the arrested leaders and cadres, including the General Secretary.

Sources claim that Home Minister Aryal also showed special interest in the activities of CPN (Maoist Centre) and the status of the absconding leaders during the meeting.