KATHMANDU: As many as 75 people have been arrested in a special sweep operation launched by the Nepal Police with the objective of controlling criminal activities and maintaining peace and security in the Kathmandu Valley.

According to the District Police Range, Kathmandu, they were arrested in a special security operation conducted in different places of Kathmandu in the last 24 hours. Among those arrested, 60 are men and 14 women. One other person has also been arrested in connection with the operation, police said.

Range Spokesperson and Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Thapa said the special police force has been mobilized to prevent and control criminal activities by maintaining peace and order in the society.

According to him, the campaign has been launched targeting the public places, the areas around the government and public service offices, and the places where there is a lot of movement of the citizens.

Police have arrested several people on suspicion of their involvement in criminal activities like manhandling of service seekers and the general public in public places and in transport vehicles, misbehaving with them, stealing, looting, running middlemen and hooliganism.

During the campaign, eight criminals who were convicted and sentenced by the court in different cases were also arrested. Similarly, four defendants who were absconding in various cases and legal proceedings have also been taken into custody by the police. Similarly, 12 people who were convicted by the court and absconding in the ongoing case have been arrested, according to the District Police Range, Kathmandu.

According to the police, the main objective of the sweep operation is to control criminal activities in public places, search for absconding criminals and defendants and to help the citizens carry out their daily activities in a safe environment.

The police said that priority has been given to control theft, robbery, abuse, middlemen and hooliganism in public transport, crowded places and areas where there is a high presence of service seekers. The district police said that further investigation is underway regarding the involvement of the arrested persons and the allegations against them.