Army prepares election-centric air patrolling

Kathmandu, May 9: The Nepali Army (NA) said that it has kept a team with helicopters at three places outside the Kathmandu Valley round the clock, beginning 10 days before the local level elections. 

Considering the security threat in the election, the army has been keeping a team standby in Itahari of Eastern Command, Pokhara of Central Command and Surkhet of the Western Command, said Army Spokesperson and Brigadier General Narayan Silwal. 

In addition, there will be a separate team for daily air patrolling here in Kathmandu Valley only. 

The government has instructed the army to be ready to reach every polling station within 30 minutes of urgency. 

Spokesperson Silwal said that the army had been mobilised for election security from April 14, the day after the President issued the order for the same.

The Nepal Army has been entrusted with the security of ballot papers and election materials. The army has also been mobilised to transport election materials. 

“The Nepal Army has left the barracks for an election-centric operation. The army has been mobilised since the day after the President’s order to mobilize the army. We are committed to fulfilling our responsibilities under the Integrated Security Plan,” said Silwal.

The army is tasked with deploying troops to each polling station within a maximum of 30 minutes on polling day.

“The medium can be anything. On foot, by vehicle or by helicopter. We are preparing accordingly. We plan to use as little air travel as possible,” said Silwal.

Sets up temporary camps 

The Nepali Army has also set up temporary camps in some places targeting the elections. The company operating base (COB) has been set up as per the necessity and direction from the Command Headquarters, he said.  

Standby bomb disposal team

The army has made a security plan to cover all polling stations. All of these teams will also have bomb disposal manpower. A bomb disposal team will also reach the site within 30 minutes of receiving the information.

The army has already trained its manpower on probable incidents and how to operate in the situation, said the army.  

Army replaces police in prisons, airports 

At present, the Nepali Army is taking charge of the security of total 74 prisons in 72 districts of the country. There is no jail in five districts – Dhanusha, Bara, Bhaktapur, Nawalparasi (East), and Rukum (East). Security forces stationed in these prisons have been deployed for election purpose. 

Spokesperson Silwal said that the army is conducting necessary process in coordination with the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force.