Hundreds of vehicles finally got on the road under tight security after a Maoist rebel blockade paralysed the main entry point to Nepal’s capital. Troops and police were late Sunday escorting truck and bus convoys to and from the capital to guard against attacks from the rebels, who are fighting to topple the monarchy and set up a communist republic in an insurgency that has claimed 11,000 lives so far. A bottleneck of at least 500 vehicles at Nagdhunga, Kathmandu’s main checkpoint 14 kilometres (eight miles) south of here, finally opened up late Sunday. “More than 500 vehicles were escorted out of Nagdhunga by security personnel Sunday afternoon,” the police source said. “Army picketing has begun and has mobilized to sensitive areas along the highways. We have not received reports of any ugly incidents on the highways,” police said. Maoist rebels called the 11-day blockade starting Saturday in an attempt to cut off the capital from supplies of food and fuel, increasing the pressure on King Gyanendra. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.