KATHMANDU: Police has prepared a special security plan to keep Thamel and Durbar Marga areas open round the clock.

Chief of the District Police Range Kathmandu, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bhupendra Bahadur Khatri, mentioned this during an interaction program on minimizing drug abuse and cybercrimes, organized today by Community Service Centre Tundaldevi, Police Circle Maharajgunj, and Maligaun.

“Police are conducting a thorough study of potential crime-prone areas to facilitate the 24-hour operation of Thamel and Durbarmarg areas. Nepal Police will move forward in enhancing the vibrancy of these two tourism business hubs by managing additional human resources from Nepal Police and the Tourist Police,” SSP Khatri stated.

He noted an increase in drug abuse and cybercrime nationwide, including in the federal capital Kathmandu, and emphasized the vigorous efforts of Kathmandu Police to control these issues.

According to him, Kathmandu Police received 3,700 complaints of social media misuse in the current fiscal year.

Similarly, more than 4,000 cases related to narcotics abuse have been registered nationwide. Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ward No. 4 Chair Dinesh Maharjan assured that all damaged roads in the Ward would be blacktopped within the next year.

He urged everyone, especially students and parents, to be vigilant against drug abuse and cybercrime.

President of the Community Service Centre Tundaldevi, Ram Prasad Neupane, mentioned collaboration with the Community Police Service Centre to address anomalies, aberrations, and antisocial activities in Chandol, Dhumbarahi, Baluwatar, Chundevi, and Tundaldevi areas.

He added that the Community Service Centre has been conducting public awareness programs to control incidents of drug abuse and cybercrime.

Chief of the Police Circle Maharajgunj, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ambar Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, highlighted various public awareness programs conducted in collaboration with the community, emphasizing the recent involvement of youths in drug abuse and cybercrime.

Former government secretary Shyam Prasad Mainali, former Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Amar Singh Shah, Principal of Newton Higher Secondary School Ram Bahadur Thapa, among other speakers, emphasized the importance of keeping students safe from drug abuse and cybercrime.