Nepal gears up security cover for Narendra Modi visit

Kathmandu, July 31: Air surveillance will be stepped up, a special command centre has been set up and Indian commandos will fly down here as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his Nepal visit Sunday.

The Nepal government has mobilised personnel of all its four security agencies for Modi's visit.

Modi is arriving on his maiden, two-day official visit to Nepal Sunday at the invitation of Nepalese Premier Sushil Koirala.

The Himalayan nation's home ministry Thursday said the week-long plan has already come into operation with the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and National Intelligence Department being mobilised.

"We have a standard operating procedure for the security of such VVIP movements, and accordingly we have mobilised enough number of security personnel to ensure security during the visit of the Indian prime minister," Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, spokesperson of Nepal's home ministry, told IANS Thursday.

According to the plan, the Armed Police Force and Nepal Army are being mobilised round the clock and will keep a close watch on pedestrians and vehicles with intelligence sleuths providing inputs to them.

The Nepal Army bears principal responsibility, including air surveillance, throughout the visit with specially trained commando personnel leading the overall security job.

A team of Indian security agencies is also coordinating with Nepalese security agencies and an Indian commando team will arrive in Kathmandu Saturday, a day ahead of the visit.

Kathmandu's Tribhuvan Interntional Airport will have restricted access to visitors.

A special command has been established at the home ministry under Dhakal's command, which can help settle any cross-ministerial logistics or security-related issues immediately.

To make the visit successful, Nepal Prime Minister Koirala will hold a meeting of all 31 political parties of the country to seek national consensus on issues to be discussed with Modi and his team.

IANS