India steps up border vigil as Nepal braces for more violence
http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=44708
Sonoli (UP): Security has been tightened up along the Indian side of the India-Nepal border in the wake of increased incidents of violence in Nepal.
The states sharing borders with Nepal have alerted the check posts to keep a strict vigil along the border. The Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) or paramilitary border guards have been checking every vehicle at the Sonali border point in Uttar Pradesh.
Seema Suraksha Bal Commanding Officer Vijay Kumar said that they were keeping a close watch on the ongoing situations in Nepal.
"Keeping in mind the situation in Nepal, which have been receiving from headquarters, we have increased vigil at the border. Checking has been increased. Patrolling is on. We are keeping a strict eye on the situation," Vijay Kumar said.
Nepal is observing 14th day of a general strike called by the seven-party political alliance opposing King Gyanendra's rule in the Himalayan Kingdom. The Maoists are backing the strike, which started on April 6.
On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters gathered in various parts of the capital, Kathmandu, despite bad weather and attempted to start a procession. However, police foiled their attempt without hurting anyone.
Although the powerful army remains loyal to the king, protests are spreading from the street to the civil service. Nepalese Police arrested at least 25 government officials for demonstrating against King Gyanendra inside the Home Ministry yesterday.
Those detained included the private secretary to Home Minister Kamal Thapa.
The Home Ministry controls the kingdom's police who have been deployed in large numbers to counter growing anti-monarchy protests in recent days. It is the first time officials have joined the opposition protests against the king.
Outside the capital, police fired rubber bullets to break up protests in two towns, injuring about a dozen, witnesses said.
Nepal's political parties have called for mass rallies, and vowed to bring out hundreds of thousands of people on the street on Thursday.
The king earlier this week held talks with the United States, Chinese and Indian ambassadors and indicated that he could meet some of the protesters' demands. The United States and India have been repeatedly calling for the restoration of democracy in the country.
India fears that the Nepal's Maoist rebels may create trouble with the help of Indian Maoists active in the Indo-Nepal border areas.
King Gyanendra sacked the government and assumed full power in February last year, vowing to crush a decade-old Maoist revolt in the country.
He, however, has offered to hold elections by April next year, but the politicians and the activists have demanded immediate transfer of power to an all-party government.
you have to keep in mind in nepal that the King is a chettri (warrior caste) the army forces are literally family. look at the top officers in the military and you see they are all Thapa and Rana (the old rulers) and many are royal cousins . They will never give up without a fight.