Minister Aryal unveils achievements of first month in office

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 18: Minister for Home Affairs Om Prakash Aryal has said that the country’s law and order situation has largely been stabilised, and the government has made a notable progress in restoring normalcy, strengthening peace and security, and preparing for the election.

Upon completing one-month in office, Minister Aryal presented the major achievements of the Ministry of Home Affairs, mentioning visible improvements in service delivery, governance, and disaster preparedness and response.

“We have curbed the deteriorating law and order situation and restored public confidence by mobilising all security and relevant agencies,” Minister Aryal said, adding that joint patrols across the country have helped return peace and security to a normal rhythm.

The government has advanced the process of compensating victims and reconstructing structures damaged during the Gen-Z movement, he said.  

District administrations have collected details of 76 deceased persons for official recognition as martyrs, he added.  He said the ministry has established a Gen-Z Facilitation Secretariat and a Support Desk, and formed a Coordination Committee with youth representatives to oversee treatment, relief, and rehabilitation of the injured and affected families.

Out of 452 police posts damaged during the September 8 and 9 protest, 401 have already been reconstructed and brought back into operation with support of the local communities, read Minister Aryal's report card. 

Arrest of 9,219 of 14,556 inmates who had escaped during the Gen-Z movement, and recovery of 563 of 594 looted weapons of Nepal Police and 31 of Armed Police Force are other achievements during the period.   

Crackdown on crime, illegal trade

The ministry reported the seizure of illegal goods worth over Rs. 100 million during the month, including Rs. 7.5 million worth of smuggled gold at Tribhuvan International Airport.

The Department of Immigration deported 67 foreign nationals overstaying or violating visa regulations and established an alternative data center at the airport to improve immigration security and digital management.

Furthermore, 477 police personnel (366 from Nepal Police and 111 from the APF) previously assigned to assist former officials were recalled.

The ministry also finalised the draft of the Fourth Amendment to the Citizenship Regulation, intensified criminal investigations, and activated the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to clamp down on financial crimes under political protection.

Following weather alerts from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (Oct. 3–6), the ministry activated a nationwide early warning system, disseminating over 6.5 million precautionary messages to citizens through local governments and agencies.

During monsoon-related disasters, the ministry operated a Command Post for 38 continuous hours, coordinating joint rescue missions involving the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and APF. As a result, 4,257 individuals were rescued, including 18 via helicopter evacuations, while 3,729 people were relocated from high-risk zones to the safer areas.

Ilam district was declared a disaster-affected area, receiving Rs. 7 million in relief funds and an additional Rs. 1.8 million for private housing reconstruction.

The 19th meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, chaired by the Prime Minister, decided to distribute the first installment of immediate relief and begin construction of temporary shelters for the affected families.

Election security planning

Looking ahead to the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, the ministry has formed an Integrated Election Security Task Force, coordinated by the head of the Security Coordination Division, to ensure a safe and peaceful voting environment.

Minister Aryal concluded that the first month’s progress reflects the government’s commitment to restoring peace, ensuring accountability, and preparing the nation for stable democratic governance.