Most polling centres lack road access in Mugu

By Harikrishna Aidi,Mugu, Feb. 21: For the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, 67 of the 69 polling centres in Mugu district have been set up in school buildings. 

One polling centre has been established at the Gamgadhi Distribution Centre of the Nepal Electricity Authority.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rabindra Thapaliya of the District Police Office, Mugu, the physical condition of polling centres, accessibility and security management are the main concerns for election security this time.

Of the 67 polling centres in the district, 14 are classified as normal, 19 as sensitive and 34 as highly sensitive. Most of these centres do not have road access. 

Voters and security personnel typically need to walk around four hours from the nearest road to reach them, while the return journey takes about two and a half hours, DSP Thapaliya said.

He said that 65 polling centres do not have internet services, although mobile phone networks are available. The District Police Office, Mugu has revised its security plan based on the structural condition of buildings owned by the electricity authority and community schools, access routes, fencing, room layouts and emergency arrangements.

Separate security plans have been prepared depending on the nature of physical structures, including security perimeters, entry and exit routes, voter queue management and secure locations for ballot boxes.

DSP Thapaliya said that although school buildings generally have enough classrooms, weak fencing in some places, open grounds and multiple access points require extra security vigilance.

Narrow access routes to polling centres, unpaved rural roads and weather-related risks in high-altitude areas have also been taken into account. Alternative security and transportation plans have been prepared in view of possible strong winds, rainfall or snowfall, he added.

For polling day security, the District Police Office plans to deploy 260 personnel from the Nepal Police and 625 election police. Six mobile patrol teams will be deployed for vehicle-based patrolling.

Ahead of the election, efforts have been stepped up to collect illegal weapons, search for absconding individuals, secure the offices of candidates and election officials and strengthen coordination with political parties. 

On polling day, hospitals and ambulance services will remain on standby. After voting, ballot boxes will be transported under tight security, and strict security arrangements will be in place at counting centres, police said.