KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 8
The Nepal Police Headquarters has deployed Additional Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) to all seven provinces to monitor and assess security preparedness for the upcoming House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5.
According to the NP Headquarters, AIG Himalaya Kumar Shrestha, currently serving in the Administration Department, has been assigned to Sudurpaschim Province to assess local security challenges and preparedness. Likewise, AIG Dambar BK has returned to Kathmandu after completing visits to all districts of Madhesh Province, which has been identified as one of the most sensitive regions for the upcoming polls. Madhes is considered particularly vulnerable due to its past election-related incidents and the timing of the festival of Holi, which falls just two days before the election. Security officials believe the festival could have an impact on voter mobilisation and overall election security.
Similarly, AIG Manoj KC of the Central Investigation Bureau has been designated for Gandaki Province, while AIG Siddhi Bikram Shah has been assigned to Bagmati Province. AIG Sushil Singh Rathore will oversee security monitoring in Karnali Province, and AIG Rajan Adhikari has been deployed to Koshi Province. Chief of the Operations Department, AIG Uma Prasad Chaturvedi, will monitor election security arrangements in Lumbini Province, a senior official at the Police Headquarters said.
The AIGs have been tasked with reviewing election security preparations, assessing available resources and identifying sensitive areas in their respective provinces. After completing the monitoring, we will submit a report, and the overall security strategy will be finalised based on those reports. During their visits, the senior officers will also coordinate with district-level security committees to understand local challenges and the security strategies already put in place. An AIG who has returned after field monitoring said that instructions have been issued to boost the morale of police personnel deployed on election duty.
Meanwhile, the police have decided to acquire weapons from the Nepali Army to reinforce election security. According to a high-ranking police official, the Police Headquarters has requested 2,800 pistols from the Army Headquarters, which will be returned after the completion of the elections. The army has already agreed to provide the requested weapons.
The police had adopted a similar approach during the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly elections held in 202. At that time, the police had received 2,800 weapons from the Nepali Army for election security purposes. Security officials say the deployment of senior officers and additional resources reflects heightened vigilance by the police to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections across the country.
