Biplav-led communist party under government's close watch, security forces devise strategy to counter activities

Kathmandu, 17 December (2020) - Security forces in Nepal are devising strategies to counter the activities of Netra Bikram Chand "Biplav"-led Nepal Communist Party after it murdered school principal Rajendra Kumar Shrestha in Morang this month.

With rise in Bipalv-led group's violent activities of late, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Army and National Investigative Department (NID) have been building strategies to counter its activities.

Subsequent to the murder of the school principal, all four security wings briefed the government with the conclusion that the banned Biplav-group is actively involved in violent activities.

Biplav-group must be trying to make its presence felt through violent activities at a time when the ruling Nepal Communist Party is mired in internal strife, an officer at the NID told Lokantar.

Chief of Army Staff General Purna Chandra Thapa visited the units under Eastern Division Headquarters on 9 December to be informed about the security situation.

Later, General Thapa also visited North-West and Far West Division Headquarters and army barracks in that area. He ordered the army units to monitor Biplav's activities closely.

Nepal Police too have discussed about the need of making strategies against Biplav's activities during the quarterly report review meeting.

One police officer attending the meeting told Lokantar that Biplav has been active in remote areas and there is a need for a security strategy involving the police posts in the area.

"Biplav may target police posts in remote areas therefore we talked about security strategy to counter that," he said.

Nepal Police's Spokesperson SSP Basanta Kunwar said that Bipalv's activities were discussed during the review meeting of the quarterly report.

"Biplav has been carrying out violent activities, so the police will certainly talk about security situation in the country," SSP Kunwar said.

Police sources say that a special search operation is going on to control Biplav's activities and arrest the leaders/cadres.

Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have established posts at Miklajung, Morang after the murder of the school principal.

Before Miklajung incident, Biplav cadres and police had exchanged fires at Chainpur in Sankhuwasabha district in eastern Nepal in November.

The banned group had laid an electric ambush targeting the police van but it didn't explode. Gunfight ensued after that, police source told Lokantar.

Last year Sarlahi district leader of Biplav-group Kumar Paudel died in a police encounter.

Former DIG of the Nepal Police Hemanta Malla said that the government needs to pay attention to the security forces' analytical briefings.