Government Sunday received a mandate from the emergency meeting of the central committee of the ruling Nepali Congress party to mobilize security forces to combat escalating Maoist violence.

“The party directs the government to mobilize all security units using  the power given by the constitution, “ a brief press statement issued after a two-hour meeting chaired by party president Girija Prasad Koirala said.

The central committee is meeting again Monday as a “ follow-up” discussion,  party spokesman Arjun Narshingh K.C. The party will back the government for any kind of measures to control insurgency, a central committee member of the Nepali Congress said.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka briefed them about the Maoist attacks and current situation in the meeting. Prime Minister Deuba informed the members that the government, if necessary, would declare emergency to control the insurgency and violence and asked the party to support his move.

The meeting condemned the Maoist violence and snapping of peace talks. The meeting also prayed for the eternal peace of all those who died in the fresh round of violence triggered Friday night by the rebels.

More than a dozen Maoists, including some senior leaders, have been  arrested in the Valley, family and government sources said. Among the arrested were Rabindra Shrestha and Mukti Pradhan– both members  the recently announced united people’s government under the convenership of Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.

Shrestha attempted to negotiate a peace with former deputy prime minister  Ram Chandra Paudel during Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s tenure last year in Dasain.