The Maoist insurgency which was previously only active in the mid western regions of Nepal has now spread to the eastern and southern districts of Nepal. According to a senior official in the police headquarters since resources had to be mobilised to the most-affected districts of Rukum, Rolpa, Jajarkot, Salyan, and Pyuthan, it has led to an increase in rebel and criminal activities in the eastern and southern areas of the country.

Thirty-five percent of the police personnel posted in Jhapa have been shifted to the western districts to help the striking force. The police have identified 26 districts as the most-affected areas. But this step has not been of much help. Most of the districts in the country have already started to feel the effect of the People's War. An official at the district police office in Jhapa said that headquarters had already sent word to the Home Ministry that 20 percent of the police personnel posted in the Mechi and Koshi zones have been taken to Maoist-affected districts. This transfer has reduced the number of personnel for day-to-day policing. The Superintendent of Police for Mechi Zone, Keshav Baral, says it is both difficult and dangerous to send smaller police forces to patrol at night because of the increase in rebel activity in these areas.

It is not only manpower that has been reduced. Around 45 percent of communication equipment and weapons have also been sent to the more seriously affected areas. Police say the reduction in communication equipment has made it difficult for them to work in the eastern and southern areas. Sixty percent of the .22 pistols which had been bought just a few months ago do not work properly and some 500 of the 'three-nought-three' rifles have been captured by the Maoists, leaving the police with only a bare minimum of weapons to work with. "The remaining weapons too have been sent away," says a police official. "If a security policy is not developed now and implemented