Armed Police Force Chief Raju Aryal Set to Retire Next Month; Succession Race Heats Up

Kathmandu. Armed Police Force (APF) Inspector General (IG) Raju Aryal is set to retire in one month. Aryal is scheduled to retire on Baisakh 18, 2083, after completing his four-year tenure as IG. Aryal took command of the Armed Police Force on Baisakh 19, 2079. The law stipulates a four-year tenure for the APF IG.

Aryal, who joined Nepal Police as an Inspector on Chaitra 18, 2054, was later transferred to the Armed Police Force. His batchmate, Dan Bahadur Karki, was appointed as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Kartik 24. If there are no changes to the Police Act and regulations, Karki will lead the police organization until Chaitra 17, 2084. Both the Police and Armed Police organizations have a 30-year service limit. However, Aryal is retiring after completing 28 years since entering the force.

Under Aryal's leadership, the Armed Police Force was deployed in the second ring of security for the local level elections held in 2079, the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly elections, and the House of Representatives member election held in 2082. Aryal is bidding farewell to the organization after navigating a tumultuous period marked by Durga Prasai's leadership of the movement and the Gen-Z protests during his tenure. During his tenure, Aryal initiated efforts to make transfers and promotions within the APF transparent and predictable. The practice of publishing a pre-list of transfers has ended favoritism in the APF. However, political 'maneuvering' in the promotions of high-ranking officers has yet to cease. Senior APF officials describe Aryal's tenure as 'satisfactory.'

Interest has begun regarding who will lead the APF after Aryal retires. The cabinet led by Balen Shah (Balen), a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), will appoint the new APF IG. Experts suggest that the appointment of the APF IG will be a 'test' of the Balen government's good governance.

The contenders for the IG position are Additional Inspector Generals (AIGs) Narayan Dutt Poudel and Banshiraj Dahal. Narayan Dutt Poudel was promoted to AIG on Jestha 6, 2079. Dahal was promoted to AIG on Ashoj 28, 2079.

Poudel holds the first position in seniority. Compared to the two, Dahal is nearly five months behind Poudel in seniority. The APF has three AIG positions. The other AIG is Ganesh Thada Magar. Thada Magar was promoted to AIG on Ashar 3, 2082. Since Poudel is first in seniority, he is considered the strongest contender for the IG post. As it is a paramilitary force, the government has prioritized seniority in the APF.

Poudel and Dahal are batchmates of the retiring IG Aryal. Poudel currently heads the Human Resource Development Department, Dahal heads the Border Security Department, and Thada Magar heads the Operations Department. Thada Magar is an officer from a later batch than Poudel and Dahal.

According to Rule 53 of the Armed Police Force Regulation-2072, the government will appoint the IGP from among the AIGs based on seniority and work efficiency. The regulation stipulates that work efficiency should be based on leadership capability, financial discipline, managerial and creative capacity, and the ability to motivate and mobilize subordinates within the APF.

Six DIG positions are also vacant in the APF. DIGs Kumar Neupane, Kamal Giri, Kul Bahadur Nembang, and Shambhu Subedi have retired. Two other positions are newly sanctioned. Promotions have not yet occurred for the six available posts.