KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 9
Security agencies have stepped up security surveillance in view of the upcoming parliamentary polls.
Voting for elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly is scheduled for November 20 in a single phase.
Around 300,000 security personnel from three security agencies have been deployed for the twin elections.
Among them, 71,693 personnel are from Nepal Police and another 115,000 are temporary policepersons.
Similarly, a total of 75,000 personnel of the Nepali Army and 35,000 personnel of Armed Police Force are being deployed to ensure that the election is held freely, impartially and peacefully.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, a huge number of security personnel have been mobilised for election security on need basis this time around.
Spokesperson for the ministry Phadindramani Pokharel said that election security was tightened on the basis of evaluation of challenges in the polling stations. An integrated security plan has been implemented.
As per the plan, security agencies will provide security in three different layers. In the first ring, Nepal Police will provide security, and Armed Police Force and the Nepali Army in the second and third rings respectively.
Nepal Police Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General Tek Prasad Rai said that election security plan was good and reliable. "Voters can cast their vote without any fear," he said. According to him, some 28 small groups have announced boycott of the election. Security agencies are closely monitoring them, according to Rai.
Nepal Police has mobilised its personnel in those areas which were not considered from the election point of view in the past.
"Learning from past experience, police have also devised security plans for contingencies," added Rai.
Police concluded that it had now become easier that the Election Commission was actively seeking compliance with the election code of conduct. The Armed Police Force that is deployed in the second cordon for election security have already mobilised the required number of personnel while some are on stand-by position to be deployed on need basis.
APF will mainly provide security to the election offices, election officers and chief election officers, among others. Spokesperson of the APF and SSP Purushottam Thapa said election security bases were set up in various locations and security personnel were mobilised in plain clothes.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 10, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
