Security officers in the mid-western region have concluded that the protests and violent demonstrations by the parties opposed to the May 14 local level elections pose a major challenge to holding the polls in the Tarai districts.

Security officials from 15 districts presented their security plans at a meeting of the regional security committee in Nepalgunj on Monday.

The Sanghiya Gathaban-dhan on Sunday announced protests aiming to disrupt the elections.

A participant of the meeting said a security plan for the local polls had been devised. “We have assessed that the underground outfits can threaten the polls,” he said, adding that they could intimidate voters in some Tarai districts.

The chiefs of the regional security agencies, Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi and Home Secretary Lokdarshan Regmi attended the meeting. Banke Chief District Officer Rabilal Pantha and Superintendent of Police Tek Prasad Rai briefed the meeting about the ground reality and possible challenges to holding the polls in the district. Police are prepared to face the protests of the Madhesi Morcha, said SP Rai.

DPM Nidhi said that the constitutional procedure necessary to deploy the Army for the local polls has already begun. Inaugurating the meeting, DPM Nidhi said that decisions of the National Security Council and the Council of Ministers are essential in the regard.

Nidhi directed the heads of the regional security agencies to make effective security arrangements for the polls.