Local elections 2022: 168,000 security personnel to be mobilized

By Narayan Dhungana, Kathmandu, April 23 (RSS): A total of 168,000 security personnel from various security agencies of Nepal are going to be mobilized to ensure security during the upcoming May 13 local level elections.    

Accordingly, Nepal's security apparatus has come to the fore with the necessary security strategy to ensure that the local elections are held in a free, fair, and fearless manner. The security team is currently conducting information gathering, and on-site inspection of polling stations and centres and has been deployed to provide necessary security in the areas where election activities have started.    

As per the strategy, Nepal Police will be in the first circle of election security, the armed police force in the second circle and Nepal Army in the third circle. The Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that the security mechanism has been mobilized by formulating an integrated as well as separate strategic security plan for the security agencies to conduct the election in a fair, fearless and peaceful manner.    

In this election, Nepal Police will mobilize more than 65,000 personnel while 71,000 personnel of the Nepal Army and 32,000 from the Armed Police Force will be deployed. Nepal Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police Bishnukumar KC said that the police have formulated an election security strategy to create a peaceful and fearless voting environment.    

A total of 10,756 polling stations and 21,955 polling booths have been set up for the elections. Accordingly, the government has categorized 2,946 polling stations as highly sensitive, 4,423 as sensitive and 3,387 as less sensitive.    

Army Spokesperson Brigadier General Narayan Silwal said that army teams will be deployed at the polling station and is also responsible for the transportation of ballot papers and security of ballot boxes.