KATHMANDU – Dashain festival this year has become peaceful except for a few incidents in the Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts), said the traffic police.
Although there were sporadic incidents since Fulpati, the seventh day of Dashain on 21 October until 27 October, there have not been major criminal activities and incidents of thefts, robberies and road accidents, said Senior Superintendent of Police Dinesh Raj Mainali, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Police Office. In terms of peace and security, this year’s Dashain has concluded more amicably than in previous years.
During the festival, a monitoring took place by forming a special security plan and police in civvies were deployed in the potential risky areas. Surveillance took place in all three districts using trained gods and drones, he said.
“No efforts were spared in the security arrangements. Police were mobilised in civvies and even drones and dogs were used for surveillance. Dashain became peaceful as surveillance has been done by mobilising additional workforce. Now, there is a plan to continue surveillance until Chhath,” he said.
However, sporadic incidents took place. The total 103 incidents took place between October 21 and 27. Two people have been killed and 118 others were injured in the incidents, said Mainali.
Of the incidents, 51 were related to road accidents killing one and injuring 73. According to the police, one person died and 13 others were injured in 13 incidents of fighting. Similarly, 10 incidents of theft took place and there were two incidents relating to the use of sharp weapons that left three people injured. Three gambling related incidents took place and the total 22 gamblers were arrested (seven from Kathmandu, 13 from Lalitpur and two from Bhaktapur). Around Rs 500,000 was confiscated from them, said the police.
