Security Tightened Across Gandaki Province Ahead of Federal Parliament Elections

Gandaki. Security arrangements have been tightened across all 11 districts of Gandaki Province to ensure the upcoming House of Representatives election on Thursday is peaceful and free from fear. Dunduraj Ghimire, Coordinator of the Provincial Election Security Command Post and Chief Secretary of Gandaki Province, stated that the security preparations targeting the election have been completed.

“Security arrangements have been made tight and effective to conduct the voting in a peaceful environment,” he said, adding, “We call upon all voters to participate in the voting without hesitation.” He mentioned that security personnel reached all polling stations on Monday.

Coordinator Ghimire stated that security agencies are working diligently to avoid any lapses in security as the voting day approaches. He added that security personnel have been deployed according to the Integrated Election Security Plan.

He further explained that polling stations have been classified as highly sensitive, sensitive, and normal in coordination with the District Command Post, and necessary strategies have been prepared based on security analysis. “There is no major security challenge in Gandaki Province; security analysis and monitoring are being carried out regularly,” Coordinator Ghimire said, “Polling station-centric security preparations began on Monday.”

Senior Superintendent of Police Tul Bahadur Karki of the Gandaki Province Police Office informed that police security teams have been mobilized at all polling stations on Monday. He noted that over seven thousand Nepal Police personnel have been deployed across the province under the Integrated Election Security Plan.

“Nepal Police is engaged in the necessary security preparations at the polling stations; Nepal Police is ready to conduct the election in a peaceful and fearless environment,” SSP Karki stated. He mentioned that individuals and groups engaging in suspicious activities during the election are under surveillance. He added that there is no cause for concern regarding the election being peaceful and free from fear due to the tightened security.

Chitrangat Baral, Assistant Chief District Officer of Kaski, stated that security arrangements have been strengthened based on monitoring and security analysis of the polling stations. He mentioned that personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department are deployed for election security.

The Nepali Army and Armed Police Force have established security bases in every constituency of the province and increased security surveillance. The election-focused security plan was prepared and implemented across the province a month ago. In view of election security, security agencies are increasing regular patrols and security monitoring.

It has been reported that Nepal Police will be deployed for the inner ring security of the polling stations as per the Integrated Election Security Plan. Election Police, along with Nepal Police, will be deployed in the first layer of security. The Armed Police Force will be in the second layer of security, and the Nepali Army will provide security from the outer layer of the security cordon. With two days remaining until election day, election security and other management tasks across the province are reported to be in the final stages.

Nearly 21,000 employees and volunteers have been mobilized to conduct the election. In this province, which has eight constituencies, 234 candidates, including 30 independent candidates, are in the electoral race. Across the province, there are a total of 1,870,065 voters, 1,297 polling stations, and 2,396 voting centers.