Security agencies have said their preparations are over for Monday’s local level elections in Province 2.

Inspector General of Nepal Police Prakash Aryal and APF chief Singha Bahadur Shrestha, who have been visiting the eight districts of the province, said security teams are fully prepared to thwart any anti-election activities on the ground.

In their meetings with the chief district officers and the local chiefs of the security agencies, IGs Aryal and Singh took stock of the plans of heavy security deployment at the polling stations.

APF chief Shrestha said the forces were ready to tackle anti-election moves if there are any. For the security of the third phase of local elections being held in the plains-only province, the Home Ministry has decided to deploy around 68,000 personnel, more than 30,000 of them Nepal Police members.

Since a majority of the polling stations and centres in Bara, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Parsa, Rautahat, Saptari, Sarlahi and Siraha are considered “most sensitive”, the ministry has directed the CDO-led district security committees for intensive security mobilisation. There are 2,166 polling stations and 3,578 polling centres in the eight districts.

The perceived “easy” access to arms and ammunition and cross-border crimes are deemed as major threats to the election. Deployment of the border security force has also been increased.

A security assessment finds the anti-election activities of the cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal and supporters of “Free Madhes” campaigner CK Raut as major obstacles to peaceful elections.