New Federal Police Act soon: Home Minister

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 6: Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak has said that the government has prioritised the drafting and enactment of a new federal law for Nepal Police. 

Speaking at an inauguration of the newly constructed office building of the Sudurpaschim Province Police Battalion in Dhangadhi on Thursday, Minister Lekhak said that the government would soon enact the federal police law. 

"A new law for the police is necessary," Minister Lekhak said, "but due to the inability to pass the act for the past 10 years, there has been some uncertainty. We will soon enact a new law," he said. 

The Home Minister hinted at the government's intention to reconsider the 30-year service period and explained that the voluntary retirement period for police constables and head constables would be reduced to 16 and 18 years, respectively. 

The Home Minister added that the work on the new police law was being advanced with the goal of including it within the achievements of his first hundred days in office.

Similarly, he announced that preparations for the new Armed Police Force law would begin within next three or four days. 

He said that after obtaining agreement from various ministries, the process to draft the Armed Police Force law would move forward. 

"The draft for new laws regarding both the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force will help in the effective operation of the rule of law, and this is one of my top priorities," Minister Lekhak said.

He emphasised that the Nepal Police had been playing a leading role in upholding law and order and protecting citizens' right to life. "Although various government bodies are working to maintain law and order, the Nepal Police has a greater role in this regard," he said.

The Home Minister also expressed his view that the Nepal Police is at the forefront of maintaining peace and security in the country. 

He believed that the newly constructed office building would make police services more efficient and enable citizens to receive better services. "The construction of the new office building will ensure that citizens receive appropriate services in a timely manner," he said.

Additionally, Minister Lekhak inaugurated a petrol pump built through the Police Welfare Fund within the premises of the Provincial Police Office.

He said that the pump, which includes an electric vehicle charging station, grocery store, and restaurant, was multi-dimensional and modern, expressing hope that the private sector would be inspired to build similar modern petrol pumps. In the inauguration programme of the new building, the Province Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Hira Sarki, said that the new building would provide additional energy for the performance of the Nepal Police. 

Similarly, Inspector General of Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar said that the new office would boost the morale of the Nepal Police. He also directed police officers at all levels to provide quality services to citizens.