Government Enforces Exclusive Security Measures to Avert Potential Clashes Between Yuva Sangh Nepal and Prasain Leadership

In anticipation of separate demonstrations by the ‘Rashtra, Nationality, Religion, Culture, and Citizen Rescue Campaign,’ led by the medical practitioner Durga Prasain and main opposition Cpn Uml youth wing Yuva Sangh Nepal, the government has enforced a specialized security action plan in the capital.

In response to the potential risk of clashes, the police, Armed Police, and the National Investigation Department have deployed manpower, complemented by a joint security mechanism with the army serving as an operation command at the Valley Police Office, Ranipokhari.

The government heightened security measures, particularly after Prasain’s campaign announced a movement advocating for systemic change. Both factions have mobilized people from outside the valley, preparing to conduct rallies with provocative expressions aimed at each other. To prevent congestion and infiltration, a significant number of security forces have been deployed.

The Yuva Sangh Nepal, coordinated by Tinkune and Prasain, convened a meeting in Balkhu, presenting demands such as controlling corruption and irregularities and maintaining social harmony. Both sides claim a commitment to peaceful assemblies. However, inflammatory statements between UML leader Mahesh Basnet and campaign coordinator Prasain prompted the implementation of a special security plan involving all four security agencies in the valley.

A coordination mechanism, headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been established in the Ministry to determine how to deploy security manpower after assessing the situation. A ‘Joint Operation Command Cell’ has been formed under the coordination of Valley Police Chief AIG Deepak Thapa and DIG Lalmani Acharya, overseeing security mobilization in both programs.

District administrations of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur are implementing separate mechanisms under the coordination of the Chief District Officer. Approximately 10,000 policemen will be deployed, with a special task force prepared within the Police Headquarters. The Police Headquarters has mobilized additional manpower under the three units of the valley and the disaster management unit at Sinamangal.

A security official noted that the Prasain-led campaign brought people from various districts to Kathmandu on public transport, continuing until Wednesday night. Yuva Sangh also transported workers to Kathmandu through its district-based mechanism. Both factions perceive the program as a show of strength, deciding to conduct rallies from different locations before Thursday’s meeting.

Valley Police Chief AIG Deepak Thapa emphasized that all necessary precautions have been taken to prevent encounters and gatherings. “Since both parties are holding a program in the valley on the same day, they have to come up with a special security action plan to manage the people who come to each other’s program. We expect the program to be peaceful,” he said.

The Prasain-led campaign has announced a program to reach Balkhu by organizing rallies from eight different places in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur. Security management has been arranged to prevent encounters and ensure the security of both events.

Since two events will be held on the same day, the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office has issued a public notice not to use vehicles for non-essential work on Thursday and has also appealed to contact 100 and 103 numbers. The Ministry of Home Affairs emphasized the need for sensitivity in security management as street protests were announced with demands, including the reversal of the system itself.

“It is possible to make demands within the scope of the law, but the announcement of campaigning against the ego and system of the two parties has made us serious about making the program peaceful,” said an official. “In this situation, it was not easy with the manpower and strategy deployed for regular peace and security. That’s why the four security agencies arranged security management by setting up a joint command.”

Kathmandu Police Chief SSP Bhupendra Bahadur Khatri assured that security personnel would coordinate both program management and citizen movement. “Since the program is going to be held at two major places where traffic flows, there may be some inconvenience in the movement of vehicles. That’s why the advance notice has been issued,” he said.

Apart from that, ordinary citizens can move safely for their regular work, and security personnel have been deployed accordingly. Kathmandu police mentioned that security teams have been deployed at around 100 locations in addition to the regular program on Thursday.

The Prasain-led campaign has declared a movement with demands for the reversal of the federal democratic republic system, the abolition of secularism, and the waiver of loans up to 20 lakh rupees taken by farmers from banks/financial institutions. The campaign is set to start on November 7 and continue continuously. Yuva Sangh has highlighted issues such as inflation, corruption control, and maintaining social harmony. Tensions escalated after incidents of harassment against the media and provocative behavior in Kathmandu, prompting the government to take precautions to ensure a peaceful environment during the upcoming events.