Ruling parties likely to lock horns

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: As differences among ruling coalition partners on the appointment of the Nepal Police chief were laid to rest after Kuber Singh Rana was appointed to the post, parties in government are set for another showdown.

Ruling forces, especially the UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum- Democratic, are likely to lock horns again over the appointment of five Assistant Inspector Generals.

Nepal Police, which has provision of seven AIGs, saw six of them –– Madan Bahadur Khadka, Arjun Jung Shahi, Naresh Gurung, Kalyan Timsina, Prakash Kunwar and Kiran Gautam retire from service today. Similarly, Kuber Singh Rana was also an AIG before being promoted to the top post.

The government in coordination with Nepal Police has started doing groundwork to promote five DIGs to the post of AIGs. Now, only two AIGs –– Nawa Raj Dhakal and Bhisma Prasai –– are in Nepal Police and five DIGs are likely to be promoted as soon at the earliest to make the number seven, a source said.

DIGs Dinkar Shumsher Rana, Ramesh Bikram Shah, Binod Singh, Ganga Pandey and Pushkar Regmi top the pecking order on the basis of seniority.

After being appointed as the country’s top policeman, IG Rana had pledged to make promotions and transfers of police officers transparent as per the rules and regulations.

“But other DIGs, who are not on the list, might have been lobbying for promotion. Political high-handedness also makes a difference in promotions and transfers,” another source said.

Of the seven AIGs, five are deputed as chiefs departments within the police headquarters, one is appointed as Metropolitan Police Commissioner and another Director of National Police Academy.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s position is considered the most attractive position among the offices. According to sources, AIGs Dhakal and Prasai are in contention for Metropolitan Police Commissioner post. Prior to his appointment as IG, Rana was Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

Although Nepal Police had a provision of seven postings for AIG, at one point it had nine. The two additional posts were created for AIGs Khadka and Shahi, who were accused of corruption but later given a clean chit. Dhakal and Prasai were promoted to replace Khadka and Shahi when they were suspended. The special posts created by the government for Khadka and Shahi have been automatically scraped with their retirement.