KATHMANDU: Sunday bombings in the capital city by the Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav-led’ outfit are an outcome of intelligence failures, security experts have warned.
They opined that the twin powerful explosions in Kathmandu that claimed the lives of four people, bomb terror and arson in different parts of the country have pointed fingers at the effectiveness of the security agencies.
Security experts say explosions near Singha Durbar, the main administrative hub of the country, and near the party office of Nepal Communist Party have raised serious security concerns.
The outfit had called a nationwide strike on Monday protesting the ‘killing’ of its cadre in Bhojpur. The law enforcement agency had anticipated untoward incidents during the strike. But, it failed to stop bombings and bomb terror on the eve of the strike.
Intelligence agencies failed to receive any clues on the bombings. Law enforcement agency held the outfit responsible based on a pamphlet found at the explosion site only.
However, Nepal Police spokesperson, Deputy Inspector General Bishwo Raj Pokharel claims that the law enforcement agency has formulated a security plan to curtail violent activities of the outfit.
“We have analyzed possible security threats and deployed security personnel accordingly,” he said.
A former official of the National Investigation Department (NID) comments that the intelligence agency is in a deep sleep of late.
“Recent explosions have exposed the negligence of security and intelligence agencies,” said the official preferring anonymity, “The intelligence agency is in a deep sleep.”
Security agencies began a clamp down on the leaders and cadres of the outfit, arresting scores of them after the government banned their activities. But, security experts say the outfit has now emerged out as a bigger security threat.
A retired official of Nepal Police blames the government for a surge in the activities of the outfit. The official claims the government has failed to formulate a trenchant approach and plan to curtail the activities of the outfit.
Former DIG Hemanta Malla opined the explosion near Singha Durbar is a big security threat.
“Whichever group is behind the Sunday’s explosions, the explosions were executed to strengthen its hold,” he said.
Former Home Secretary Khemraj Regmi says the bombings were an outcome of sheer negligence of the intelligence agency.
“Intelligence agencies should evaluate clues minutely. But they failed. The incident is being taken lightly,” he lamented.
Likewise, former AIGP of the Armed Police Force Ravi Raj Thapa opined that the recent bombings occurred as the law enforcement agencies have failed to change their working styles timely.
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