Police Deploys Additional Inspector Generals Across Provinces to Monitor Election Security

Kathmandu. The Police Headquarters has deployed Additional Inspector Generals (AIGs) to all provinces to monitor election security. AIGs have been assigned to understand the election security challenges in the 7 provinces.

AIG Himalaya Kumar Shrestha, working in the Administration Department at the Police Headquarters, has been deployed to understand the security challenges in the Sudurpashchim Province.

AIG Dambar Bik has returned to Kathmandu after visiting all districts in Madhesh Province. Madhesh Province is considered the most sensitive for the House of Representatives election to be held on Falgun 21. It is anticipated that the election might be affected due to Holi, which occurs two days before the election.

‘Heavyweight’ Candidates to See Deployment of High-Level Police Officers

AIG Dr. Manoj KC of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) will be deployed in Gandaki, Siddhi Bikram Shah in Bagmati Province, Sushil Singh Rathore in Karnali, and Rajan Adhikari in Koshi Province, a high-ranking official at the Police Headquarters told Ratopati. Uma Prasad Chaturvedi, head of the Operations Department, will be deployed in Lumbini Province.

The AIGs will study the preparations made so far for election security, the status of resources, and sensitivity levels. One AIG from the police stated, 'After returning from the monitoring, we will submit a report, and security strategies will be formulated based on that report.'

The AIGs will also inquire with the District Security Committee about election security challenges and the strategies formulated at the local level. One AIG who returned after visiting the provinces stated, 'We have provided guidelines to boost police morale.'

Police Request Loan of 2800 Pistols from Army for Election Use

The police are 'borrowing' weapons from the army for use in securing the House of Representatives elections. A high-ranking police official told Ratopati that 2800 pistols have been requested from the army headquarters with the agreement to return them after the election is completed. The army has already decided to provide the pistols as per the police request.

The police also borrowed weapons from the army during the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly elections held on Mangsir 4, 2079. At that time, the police took 2800 weapons from the army on 'loan'.

3 Police Officers and 10 Election Police to be Deployed at Highly Sensitive Polling Stations