KATHMANDU: As the hearing on the detention of individuals involved in the savings scam of the Surydarshan Savings Cooperative in Pokhara nears its final stages, the local administration has intensified security measures.
The hearing, which has been ongoing for a week in Kaski District Court, is nearing its conclusion.
In response, the administration has increased security across sensitive areas in Pokhara since Wednesday.
Kaski’s Chief District Officer Bharat Mani Pandey explained that there is no curfew in place, despite some news reports suggesting so. He clarified that the heightened security is a regular process based on the sensitivity of the situation and emphasized that any curfew would be announced in advance.
Security measures have been particularly strengthened in and around key areas in Pokhara, including the vicinity of the District Administration Office and other sensitive spots like the Rastra Bank Chowk, Barahi Chowk, and Shahid Chowk, where vehicle movement has been restricted.
The cooperative fraud case involves Rabi Lamichhane, the chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who has been in police custody since October 18. As the final arguments in the case approach, the local authorities have tightened security to prevent any potential unrest.
With the verdict approaching, security has been heightened near government offices and the court since Tuesday.
On Tuesday, after the conclusion of the detention hearing for Lamichhane, supporters of RSP gathered outside the court, chanting slogans against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa.
The possibility of more RSP supporters gathering across the country in anticipation of the verdict has led to a further increase in security. In addition, the victims of the cooperative fraud are also expected to mobilize in large numbers, prompting the administration to maintain high alertness.
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