Heightened Security Alert Issued Nationwide Following Arrests of Former PM Oli and Ramesh Lekhak

Kathmandu. High security alert has been adopted across the country citing increased security challenges after the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak. Both Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force headquarters have placed security personnel on 'high alert' nationwide.

Nepal Police Spokesperson (DIG) Abhinarayan Kafle told Ratopati that security personnel have been kept on 'standby' across the country due to the changing situation. He stated, 'Clear instructions have been issued by the organization chief to prevent any security lapse.'

The Nepal Police Headquarters has issued a circular directing police personnel from Constable to SP level to remain on standby in the center and districts. DIG Kafle also mentioned that leave for police personnel has been restricted.
District chiefs have been instructed to increase patroling in their respective areas and to mobilize according to strategic plans.

The Armed Police Force has also kept its security personnel on standby. An APF official told Ratopati that a circular has been issued nationwide for personnel to remain on standby in riot control gear.

Meeting of Home Minister and Security Chiefs

Following the arrests of Oli and Lekhak based on the recommendations of the inquiry commission's report regarding the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung held discussions with security chiefs on Saturday. After the arrests, cadres of CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress staged protests in Kathmandu and other locations. Following the protests, the Home Minister discussed potential scenarios with top officials including IGP Dan Bahadur Karki and Armed Police IGP Raju Aryal.

According to a high-ranking security official who participated in the discussion, the conclusion reached was that the protests against the arrest of former Prime Minister Oli were 'less significant' than anticipated. The official present at the meeting said, 'Our conclusion is that the demonstration was weaker than expected.'

He stated that after the weaker-than-expected protests, a decision was made to formulate a security strategy and adopt a high security alert nationwide. Today, UML and Congress cadres have protested in 21 locations, including Kathmandu. Seven individuals involved in the protest at Babar Mahal in Kathmandu have been arrested by the police and are under investigation.