Kathmandu : The government has deployed additional police team under the command of DSP saying that the security threat against CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has increased. As per the decision of the government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, additional police has been deployed for Prachanda’s security since Saturday.

According to an aide of Prachanda, more police have come to Khumaltar under the command of DSP since Saturday due to the government’s decision. Those police will now provide security as Prachanda’s infant side. Earlier, the KP Sharma Oli-led government had withdrawn 53 Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel deployed under Prachanda’s protection.

However, Deuba, who became the prime minister with the support of the Maoists, has sent additional police force, citing increased security threats against Prachanda. The police, including the DSP, had gone for the vehicle, the source said, adding that the Oli government had removed the infrontier and left him behind. But now Prachanda will be protected by armed forces and Nepal Police from both sides.

According to a security official, the government has concluded that the biggest security challenge now lies with Prachanda. A police team has been sent accordingly. Spokesperson of Nepal Police SSP Basanta Bahadur Kuwar said that it should be taken as a regular process. The government analyses which VIPs have increased or decreased the security challenge, he said, adding that increasing or decreasing security on the need basis. This happens when we understand it as a regular process.

Kuwar said the government could increase security for other leaders if it deems it necessary. Earlier, seven YCL cadres were deployed under the leadership of Prakash Chandra Pandey after the then Oli government withdrew most of the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force deployed under Prachanda’s protection. Before the Oli government took him back, there were 26 personell under the command of DSP of Nepal Police and 47 under the command of Inspector of Armed Police under Prachanda’s security. The Oli government had cut the security personnel last February by implementing the working procedure 2077 on the security of reinstated and former government officials. At that time, only 16 armed personnel and two Nepal Police personnel were deployed to provide security to the former prime minister.