Monitoring of Social Media misuse to be intensified

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 22: A regular meeting of the Central Security Committee, chaired by Minister for Home Affairs Om Prakash Aryal, has concluded. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs to discuss security strategies focused on the forthcoming elections.

The committee includes the Home and Defence Secretaries as well as the heads and representatives of all four security agencies.

The meeting reviewed the work being carried out by the responsible agencies in accordance with the Integrated Election Security Plan-2082, which has already been approved by the Central Security Committee and is currently in implementation. Discussions also covered plans related to manpower mobilisation and logistical arrangements, according to Joint Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry, Ananda Kafle.

At today’s meeting, all the four security agencies briefed the meeting on their preparations under the election security plan, said Kafle. 

The prevailing security situation and potential challenges were analysed, and discussions were held on ensuring effective security arrangements through close coordination among all security agencies, added Kafle.

The meeting decided to activate all mechanisms formed to coordinate election-related programmes. It also resolved to instruct all district security committees to strengthen and ensure reliable security arrangements in order to manage and regulate election campaigning and activities of political parties and candidates.

Furthermore, the meeting decided to make monitoring more effective to control the misuse of social media during election campaigning and to take strict action in accordance with the law if any illegal activities are found.

EC holds meeting with Minister Aryal 

Meanwhile, another separate discussion on election-focused security management was held on Wednesday evening at the Election Commission office in Kantipath.

The meeting reviewed contemporary issues, including measures to control and bring within the legal framework any criminal activities that could disrupt the forthcoming elections. 

Discussions also centred on adopting a reliable security strategy through coordination and cooperation with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the elections are conducted in a transparent, peaceful and fear-free environment.

The discussion was attended by Minister for Home Affairs Om Prakash Aryal, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, Election Commissioners Janaki Kumari Tuladhar and Sagun Shamsher Jabara; Home Secretary Raj Kumar Shrestha; Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki; and other senior officials of the Election Commission.