Army to meet any emergency situation, on high alert; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 6 April: Amid daily mounting violence ahead of the 10 April constituent assembly election, Nepal Army said it is on high alert to meet any emergency situation, an official army announcement said Sunday.
The army came out with a categorical statement it is ready to meet any emergency situation as Maoist Chairman Prachanda opposed a threat by former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to deploy the army to quash any Maoist violence during the controversial and still doubtful election.
The election is doubtful with unending and mounting violence and it unlikely to end.
Campaigning for the country’s first assembly election ends midnight Monday.
The National security Council and the cabinet has already decided army deployment isn’t necessary for polls pushed by India, USA and Girija Prasad Koirala and the CPN-UML in government.
Koirala Sunday separately instructed security chiefs of civilian three security agencies to take all additional security measures to make for the elections.
The deployment of the army without Maoist concurrence is likely and possible as both defence and home ministries are controlled by the Congress party of Koirala who, it appears, is determined to push elections and rule with army and foreign support.
The election is not determining the future of government.
The dead body of conservative Rashtriya Janasakti Party candidate D Dahal was found in Dhankuta Sunday one day after his abduction by suspected Maoists.
Clashes between rival parties continued Sunday four days ahead of the assembly poll.
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