Valley’s security comes under Nepal Police

Kathmandu, July 12: The Nepal Police and Province Police (Operation, Supervision, and Coordination) (First Amendment) Bill, 2079 B.S. has been approved by the House of Representatives (HoR) bringing the overall security responsibility of the Kathmandu Valley under the Nepal Police or Federal Police in coordination with the Province Police.

A proposal of the bill tabled by Minister for Home Affairs Bal Krishna Khand seeking endorsement was passed from the House unanimously on Monday.

After holding the clause-by-clause discussion on the bill, an agreement was reached at the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee this week to pass the bill unanimously and bring the security responsibility under the Nepal Police in coordination with the Province Police Offices.

As per the agreement reached with the Province Police Office, a sub-section has been added in the section 10 of (9A) to add the sentence as ‘Nepal Police will coordinate with the province police while performing work under this section’.

Participating in the discussion on the bill, lawmaker Khagraj Adhikari of the CPN-UML, the main opposition party, said that the report was prepared after extensive discussions and consensus in the committee and was presented in the House accordingly.

MP Mana Kumari GC stressed on the need to strengthen cooperation and coexistence for the implementation of federalism. She had drawn the attention of the Home Minister saying that there was a demand from the Nepal Police to arrange for pension in 16 years. 

Lawmaker Prem Suwal of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party had drawn attention to the fact that the amendment bill came without implementing the act. 

MPs Bharat Kumar Shah, Yashoda Gurung Subedi and others participated in the discussion on the bill.

Replying to a question raised by the lawmakers before the bill was passed, Home Minister Khand said that the Nepal Police and the Province Police Offices were organisations to play a role for peace, security and good governance.  He expressed confidence that the police would be successful in facing the challenge of finding the accused and taking action as the nature of crime and new incidents are on the rise.

Stating that the bill does not seek to weaken the province police, Minister Khand said that the government was aware of the security challenges that may arise due to internal and external factors. Stating that the quasi-judicial powers have not been given to the police even though the concept of metropolitan police has been put forward in Nepal, the Home Minister said that the practice of giving such powers to the metropolitan police is being practiced in different countries and can be practiced in Nepal as well in the future.

Minister Khand said that the Ministry is positive that the Nepal Police can apply pension facility in 16 and 18 years and necessary studies have been done for implementing this provision soon.