INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, APRIL 21Security arrangements have been finalised for the local level elections slated for May 13.
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Joint-secretary Fanindramani Pokharel, spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs, said security arrangements would be put into effect
in line with the Local Level Election Integrated Security Plan recently approved by the MoHA.
He informed that a circular
was also issued to all district administration offices to strictly enforce the integrated security plan in the respective areas to hold
local level polls in a free, fair and fearless environment.The security plan was outlined for integrated mobilisation of Nepali Army, Nepal
Police, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department
As per the integrated security plan, the security agencies will carry out pre-election, election and post-election security operations
The security arrangements will be in place until the victory rally of political parties after announcement of the final results of the civic
polls.As many as 70,000 personnel from Nepal Police and 32,000 from APF will be deployed for election security.The number of NA personnel is
In addition to security forces, there will be around 100,000 temporary cops
According to the MoHA, security agencies will also conduct ground and aerial patrolling during the elections to ensure that voting exercise
goes on smoothly without any untoward incident.Nepal Police personnel and temporary cops will be deployed inside the polling centres while
APF and NA will man the second and outermost rings respectively.Arrangements are made in such a way that security personnel can reach
anywhere within 10-15 minutes.Security agencies will mainly focus on the security of voters, election candidates, political leaders, general
public, election officials, warehouses of election logistics, polling stations and ballot counting centres, among others.The MoHA warned
that any person or group involved in intimidating and threatening voters, candidates and employees deputed to polling stations would be
dealt with ruthlessly.The polling stations have been classified into three categories - normal, sensitive and highly sensitive - for
security purpose.The number of security personnel manning the polling station will depend on the area and population.Nepal Police has been
given the responsibility of a first responder if any untoward incident takes place.A version of this article appears in the print on April
22, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com