Early Police Career
Born in 1928 in Palpa (present Nawalpur), late Khadgajeet Baral completed his master's degree in 1955. In 1956, he was selected through open competition by the Public Service Commission for Nepal Police's first batch of academically-graduate inspectors. He was also Nepal Police's first member to hold a master's degree.
Rising through the ranks, Baral implemented numerous reforms in Nepal Police. Assuming command of the Central Police Training Center (CPTC) in Maharajgunj, he introduced 'Unarmed-Combat Training' for police-trainees in 1967. Under his command of the Central-Region DIGP Office in 1971, he introduced 'Head-Constable Training'. It included improved methods of patrolling, bailee-surveillance and intel-gathering. The public was also invited to learn about protection methods from fires and criminals.
Inspector General of Nepal Police (1972-1978)
In 1972, Baral was appointed the Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP). He was Nepal Police's first chief to have joined the organization by the Public Service Commission's open competition.
The first milestone of Baral's term was starting formal welcome and farewell programs for the incoming and outgoing police chiefs, respectively. In 2030 BS, he changed the minimum educational requirement for ASI (Assistant Sub-Inspector) from matriculation to intermediate-level. Provisions of free rations (1973) and uniforms (1976) commenced for all police personnel.
After Baral established the engineering-section (1974), a DSP-position was created to serve as the section-in-charge, appointing Bharatraj Sharma as Nepal Police's first engineer. Over-shares' positions were also created. Subsequently, under Baral's conception, nationwide 'single-gajur' pagoda-style modernization of police buildings began. Before this, police personnel mostly had to rent and work in dilapidated patipauwa-like buildings.
Border-Security
The legacy of Baral's strategic foresight can be further witnessed in the conception and implementation of a border-security plan. It included initiating border-security training for Nepal Police officers (circa 2030 BS). After being trained by India's Border Security Force (BSF), numerous police officers were assigned at CPTC to successively train other police personnel.
In Baral's IGP-term, the first border-security police offices along the Nepal-India border were established. These included district-security police offices (1975) and border-security police chaukis. Police personnel-positions (darbandis) were created for them, and personnel with relevant training were assigned. Numerous additional border-security police offices were established along the Nepal-China border.
Health Care
In 1976, a DSP-position for a medical-doctor was approved along with 11 other technical-staff positions. With Baral's endeavor, Dr. Premlal Shrestha was permanently appointed as Nepal Police's DSP in 1977. From 1976, nursing-orderlies were selected from among police personnel and then trained at Tri-Chandra Military Hospital, followed by their permanent appointments as Nepal Police's medical-staff.
The vision to build a separate-independent hospital for Nepal Police personnel and their immediate family was conceived by Baral. Nepal Police Hospital's current-site was purchased for Nepal Police in his IGP-term.
Circa 2030-32 BS, as Nepal's first police chief to officially visit India, Baral persuaded the Indian-government to help Nepal Police build its hospital. Subsequently, in 2034 BS, he formulated a Rs. 3 crores-project with the Indian-government for constructing a 50-bedded hospital for Nepal Police. Nepal Police would provide the land and necessary manpower. The Indian-side would bear full construction expenses, provide necessary supervision, health-related equipment and other technical assistance. In Baral's IGP-term, the Indian-side provided the project's first-installment.
Other Milestones in Baral's IGP-Term
Baral conceived and established the Nepal Police Mountaineering and Adventure Foundation (NPMAF), whose team conquered Mt. Tukuche in 1976, the first successful mountain-expedition to have solely comprised of Nepali members. Its entire expenses were solely borne by Nepal Police. In Baral's IGP-term in 1978, NPMAF completed the plan to conquer 'virgin-peak' Mt. Pabil in collaboration with the Japan Workers' Alpine Federation Club.
Baral envisioned and greatly contributed to the legislations and enactments of: The Immigration Act to strengthen the security-system pertaining to Nepal's immigration, the Evidence Act (2031) to modernize crime-investigation and the Narcotics Drug (Control) Act (2033) to systematize narcotics-related crime-prosecutions. While participating in an INTERPOL conference, Baral requested for a law specialist's help in drafting Nepal's narcotics-control law. The West-Germany Government sent a renowned expert, leading to the Narcotics Drug (Control) Act (2033)'s creation and enactment. This was not just Nepal but South Asia's first narcotics-control act. Circa 2033 BS, Baral established the Law-Section in Nepal Police to offer consultations and recommendations to draft, amend and implement police-related laws.
In his IGP-term, Nepal Police personnel were trained at the USA's BNDD (later DEA), the first narcotics-training received by Nepal Police.
Baral also established the Police Flying Squad (1975), Mounted-Police (1977), Canine-Section (1975), Forensics-Science Laboratory (1978) and Explosives and Ballistics Section, Police Museum (1977), DIGP Office in Pokhara (2032 BS), West-Regional Police Training Center (1977) in Butwal and Central-Regional Police Training Center (2031 BS) in Ranibari, Kathmandu.
Birendra Police Gymnasium was established by Baral at Nepalgunj. Other milestones include the First Police Poet Convention (2034 BS), Armed-Police Gana No. 1 Barracks Building (1978) and central-store building, both of the latter at police headquarters.
Police Band and Police-Reunion
As per an agreement between Baral and the British-Gurkha Army's Colonel Berny Sanders, Captain Hasta Bahadur Thapa was assigned to coach Nepal Police's inexperienced band in 1973.
With Baral's conception and Thapa's training, Pipe-Band was introduced in Nepal Police Band.
Similarly, in 1973, Nepal Police started the annual tradition of hosting 'Beating the Retreat' and 'Police-Reunion Program' on the same day. A symbol of solidarity and brotherhood among serving and retired police personnel, the latter laid the foundation for Nepal Retired Police Organization's establishment. Thapa later retired from the British-Gurkha Army. Despite exceeding the age-limit for recruitment, with Baral's endeavor, he was appointed as a Nepal Police Inspector in 1977. This led to the police-band's modernization and expansion.
Keeping in mind the lower-ranking police personnel's struggle to make ends meet, Baral also conceived and inspired the founding of Nepal Police School for their children.
Acclaimed as the pioneer that established the foundations of Nepal Police, Baral stood up in the organization's favor, both during service and after retirement. He was a police leader, a cut above the rest, and is established as the 'Yug Purush of Nepal Police'. (Man of the Era of Nepal Police).
Tribute to the Sports Giant
- Bishnu Gopal Shrestha
Football
In 2025 BS, under then DIGP Baral's conceptualization and plan, Nepal Police started an inter-zonal police football tournament: IGP Shield Football Tournament.
In Baral's IGP-term, for the first time, Nepal Police's talented footballers were formally coached at FIFA coaching-schools abroad.
Subsequently, circa 2033 BS, Nepal Police won Darjeeling's prestigious Gorkha Brigade Cup and the Sanjaya Gandhi Memorial Football Tournament in New Delhi, India.
Judo
After seeing judo for the first time while training in Japan in 1966, Baral persuaded the then Japanese police chief Aaraiya to help Nepal Police introduce judo in Nepal. Due to Baral's initiative, Nepal got a 6th Dan judo-master Ichizu Sakairi along with all necessary coaching-paraphernalia.
As Nepal's police chief, Baral sent numerous Nepal Police personnel to Japan to receive judo training. Numerous Japanese judo-masters like Hashimoto-san were invited to train police personnel in Nepal.
For the public, Nepal Judo Association (NJA) was established in 1983, of which I served as the founder-president. Baral later served as its president for six consecutive years. During his tenure, in 1995, Nepal bagged 3 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze medals at the 7th South Asian Games held in Madras, India.
Hockey
Hailed as All Nepal Hockey Association's founder-president, Baral expanded hockey throughout Nepal. Before becoming president, he played a predominant role in organizing numerous hockey matches at Tundikhel.
Under his presidency, hockey matches were held at the Central Police Training Centre (Maharajgunj). He also brought seasoned hockey coaches like Murtaza and Saiyad Ikbal from Pakistan to train and produce proficient hockey players in Nepal.
In the End
Baral's sports vigor remained vibrant till his later life. Passionate about golf, he even won tournaments as an octogenarian.
His words of affection and intimacy reverberate in my mind even today, "Ae, achel ta ke gardai chas? Jiwanma afno deshlai kahilye nabhulnu". (Hey, what are you doing these days? Never forget your country in your whole life). A real nationalist and patriot, late Baral was a special source of inspiration to us all. My salutations to the great departed soul.
(Author Shrestha served as the treasurer of both Nepal's National Sports Council and Nepal Olympic Committee, respectively from 1977 and 1978 for more than a decade. He also served as the founder-presidents of NJA and South Asia Judo Federation.)
