Govt recommends dismissal of Madhes Province Chief Bhandari

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 11: The government has recommended the President for the dismissal of Madhes Province Chief Sumitra Bhandari

A Cabinet meeting on Monday recommended her dismissal after she was dragged into controversy over the appointment of new Chief Minister in Madhes.

Bhanadari appointed Saroj Kumar Yadav, leader of the CPN (UML) Madhes Provincial Parliamentary Party, as the Chief Minister of Madhes Province on Monday, following the resignation of Jitendra Sonal. 

However, the appointment made at Panas Cottage in Kalapani, Bardibas, located at the border between Mahottari and Sindhuli not only drew criticism but also sparked violence in Janakpur. 

Likewise, the government recommended the President to appoint Surendra Labh Karn in Bhandari's place. 

Likewise, the Cabinet appointed Additional Inspector General (AIG) Dan Bahadur Karki as the 33rd Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Nepal Police.

Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel informed that the Cabinet meeting held on Monday evening at Singha Durbar decided to recommend for the dismissal of Madhes Province Chief Sumitra Bhandari and promote AIG Karki to the top post of Nepal Police, effective from November 13.

The meeting also approved several key administrative and regulatory amendments, including the Second Amendment to the National Identity Card and Registration Regulations-2082 B.S.

In connection with the probe committee investigating the incidents of September 8 and 9, the Cabinet decided to provide an additional manpower of 15 officials, four from the civil service and eleven from the Nepal Police to make the work of the commission more efficient.

Similarly, the government granted approval for a Nepali delegation led by Inspector General Raju Aryal of the Armed Police Force Nepal to participate in the Ninth Nepal–India Coordination Meeting, to be held in New Delhi, India, from November 12 to 14.

The Cabinet also endorsed the Third Amendment to the Land Use Regulations-2082 and approved the proposal to host the 10th National Games in Karnali Province from February 13 to 19, 2026.

New IGP to assume office from Nov. 13 

According to the decision, newly promoted AIG Karki will assume the office from November 13 after present IGP Chandra Kuber Khapung retires from the midnight of November 12 upon completing his 30-year mandatory service term.

Widely regarded as a dedicated and disciplined officer, Karki joined the Nepal Police as an Inspector on March 31, 1998. Under the existing service tenure policy, he is expected to serve as IGP for approximately two and a half years, until March 30, 2028.

Promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in December 2009, Karki holds a Master’s degree in Political Science. He has represented Nepal in three United Nations peacekeeping missions, twice in East Timor and once in Haiti.

During the Gen-Z Movement in September, Karki commanded operations in the Kathmandu Valley. Prior to that, he headed the Human Resources Department at Police Headquarters, and as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), he led the Lumbini Province Police Office.

As Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), he commanded the Kathmandu District Police Office, overseeing high-profile cases including the Bhutanese Refugee Scam.

Known for maintaining a clean professional record, Karki has extensive experience spanning field operations to the IGP Secretariat. He has undertaken several international training programmes and previously served as the official spokesperson for the Nepal Police.