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Police enjoy public trust; HoR election will be held peacefully: Police Spokesperson Kafle

The Nepal Police, a federal force with more than 79,000 sanctioned positions and over 75,000 active personnel, has reiterated its commitment to conducting the upcoming HoR election, scheduled for March 5, in a free, fair and fearless environment.
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By REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, Jan 7: With less than two months remaining for the country to go to the polls to elect members of the House of Representatives (HoR)—an election mandated for the current interim government—security remains the foremost prerequisite for ensuring a successful and peaceful electoral process.



In this context, the Nepal Police, a federal force with more than 79,000 sanctioned positions and over 75,000 active personnel, has reiterated its commitment to conducting the upcoming HoR election, scheduled for March 5, in a free, fair and fearless environment.


The Nepal Police, which is responsible for inner-circle election security, has urged the public to remain confident in the security arrangements in place.


As the country has entered election mode, the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) held a discussion with Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Abhi Narayan Kafle, who serves as the Spokesperson of the Nepal Police.


The discussion covered key security concerns, including prison escapes, weapons looted by demonstrators during the Gen-Z movement on September 8 and 9, election security preparedness, and the morale of security personnel in the wake of these incidents.


Regarding the overall security situation, Spokesperson Kafle said that the police have put in place robust and reliable security arrangements. All police units have been effectively mobilised, and election-centric security operations are already underway, he said.


Kafle further explained that election cells have been formed at the federal, provincial and district levels, with designated focal persons assigned to each cell.


To ensure a conducive environment for the election, he added that police personnel have been deployed for election-targeted patrolling, picketing and checking.


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According to Spokesperson Kafle, efforts are underway to expedite the reconstruction of police offices damaged during the Gen-Z uprising, along with the repair, maintenance and full operation of police vehicles.


Moreover, the police have intensified regulatory monitoring and patrolling in border areas to prevent infiltration and curb criminal activities.


He acknowledged that security challenges have been identified from various angles, as the election is being conducted under different and complex circumstances.


When asked how the police organisation has responded to these challenges, Kafle said that security risks have been assessed from all possible perspectives.


As Election Day approaches, he noted, differences and internal conflicts among Gen-Z youth groups, as well as tensions between older and newer political parties, could intensify.


Due to political polarisation and disagreements among political forces in the aftermath of the Gen-Z movement, the police have also considered the possibility of election boycotts or attempts to disrupt the electoral process, he said.


Additionally, threats or acts of violence targeting voters, candidates and election officials have been identified as potential security risks.


The security agency has also taken note of possible anti-election activities, including actions by ethnic, religious and communal groups, as well as the impact of misinformation circulating on social media.


According to Kafle, challenges may also arise due to the geographical remoteness of certain regions, difficult terrain in hilly and mountainous areas, and adverse weather conditions.


Regarding election-related security incidents so far, the Spokesperson ruled out any major incidents to date, stating that routine security management activities are being carried out on a daily basis.


To address potential risks, he said that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Police Headquarters and all subordinate units are actively identifying threats and formulating response plans based on ongoing assessments.


An integrated security plan has been devised, and district-level election security plans are being prepared and implemented accordingly, he added.


Concerns have also been raised about security risks posed by weapons looted from security personnel and police offices, as well as prisoners who escaped during the Gen-Z movement.


Responding to these concerns, Spokesperson Kafle said the police have taken the matter seriously and mobilised all available human resources to recover the looted arms and apprehend absconding prisoners.


During the interaction with RSS, he revealed that a unified and coordinated approach has been adopted among all security agencies to address these challenges.


In addition, the Nepal Police has launched a special campaign to arrest fugitives and recover stolen and missing weapons.


According to him, arrests of fugitive prisoners and detainees are being made on a daily basis, while intelligence-gathering and targeted search operations are currently underway in identified areas.


“Most of the wanted criminals and stolen weapons have been successfully brought under control,” he said.


 


 

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