Security situation ‘normal’ in Tarai districts

Chitwan, December 2

The Election Commission today directed the authorities concerned to ensure that the second phase of parliamentary and provincial elections slated for December 7 were held in a peaceful, fair and fearless environment.

Election commissioners Sudheer Shah and Ila Sharma, who visited Parsa, Rautahat and Chitwan, issued the directive to chief district officers, chief returning officers and security forces of respective districts.

The commissioners also concluded that the security situation was normal, according to a source.

Stating that the trip was part of regular monitoring of elections, Sharma told THT: “We are here to ensure that all preparations have been completed. In terms of security, Chitwan is better than other districts.”

According to Chitwan CDO Narayan Prasad Bhatta, the EC commissioners directed the administration to focus on security of voters, candidates and polling officers; and ensure proper coordination among security forces, district administration and political parties.

They also directed the local administration to work with the media to curb violation of election code of conduct, said CDO Bhatta.

The commissioners took a briefing on the security situation from the local administration and other stakeholders. “We briefed the commissioners about the ground reality and preparations in our district,” CDO Bhatta told THT.

The EC’s monitoring team and returning officers reported to the visiting election commissioners that rival parties were tolerant towards each other.

According to Chief Returning Officer Kul Prasad Sharma, civil servants were deployed on the basis of lucky draw across Chitwan. A total of 3,298 civil servants have been deployed at 408 polling centres and 161 polling stations across Chitwan.

The returning officers are constantly in contact with political parties to ensure that the election code of conduct is not violated. “We do not see any security threat in our district,” Chief Returning Officer Kul Prasad Sharma told THT. “There are no sensitive polling centres apart from a few that have been tagged ‘sensitive’ on the bases of distance and terrain.”