Police reinforce Tarai and Madhes ahead of crucial election, Jhapa deemed key flashpoint

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 27:  With just six days remaining before the House of Representatives election, the Police Headquarters has mobilised additional personnel across districts to prevent security challenges from escalating beyond control.

The election, scheduled for March 5, will see enhanced security arrangements at 10,967 polling stations nationwide. According to a senior police official, around 13,000 personnel have already been deployed as reinforcements, in addition to regular forces.

In the first phase, 44 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and 110 Inspectors were dispatched. This week alone, the Headquarters has mobilised a further 100 DSPs and 400 Inspectors. Police Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed that officers deployed in the initial phase had already reached their respective field postings.

Additional officers will be mobilised from units under the Valley Police Office as well as from the Police Headquarters. A greater number of personnel will be stationed in districts of Madhes Province and Lumbini Province, where the number of highly sensitive polling stations is significant.

Police have identified the Tarai districts stretching from Jhapa to Kailali as particularly challenging in terms of election security. Madhes Province has the highest number of highly sensitive polling stations, with 1,246 such locations across its eight districts. Further, Lumbini Province has 462 highly sensitive stations, while Sudurpashchim has 481. Koshi Province has 439, Bagmati Province 354 across its 10 districts, Gandaki Province 328, and Karnali Province 358 polling stations categorised as highly sensitive.

Under the integrated security plan, 73,000 Nepal Police personnel will be deployed for election security. A total of 133,980 temporary election police and 15,110 Armed Police Force personnel will also be mobilised. DIG Kafle said that all available forces would be utilised to the maximum extent for election security.

Two Inspectors per local unit

Out of 275 seats in the House of Representatives, 165 members will be elected through the first-past-the-post system and 110 through the proportional representation system.

To ensure effective and fear-free voting, Police Headquarters has decided to deploy two Inspectors in each local unit. Each team will be supported by a reserve unit under the command of a DSP, capable of assisting two to three rural municipalities and districts as required.

The Central Election Cell has prepared the security strategy. The cell is led by Additional Inspector General (AIG) Uma Prasad Chaturvedi, with DIG Arun Paudel and Senior Superintendents of Police Dayanidhi Gyawali and Subash Chandra Bohara serving as members. Plans are also in place to deploy three Inspectors in each Sub-metropolitan City and four in each Metropolitan City. 

According to DIG Kafle, by this Saturday (March 28), all security personnel will reach their designated election areas. Lower-ranking personnel from Karnali Province will be reassigned to other provinces due to higher availability there, while senior officers will be sent to reinforce Karnali. In districts such as Kalikot, Bajhang, Bajura and Darchula, Superintendents of Police (SPs) will command election security operations.

At highly sensitive polling stations, three police officers and 10 election police personnel will be deployed. Where additional polling centres are located within a station, two more police officers and four election police personnel will be assigned accordingly.

A total of 31,000 Armed Police Force personnel will form the second security ring, while 79,000 Nepali Army personnel will be deployed in the third layer under the integrated election security plan. Additionally, 2,000 personnel from the National Investigation Department will be mobilised for intelligence gathering.

According to the integrated security plan approved by the Central Security Committee, a total of 315,000 security personnel, including election police, will be deployed to safeguard polling stations and centres nationwide.

SSP-led command post in high-risk districts 

Meanwhile, the Police Headquarters has formed special security commands in districts deemed highly sensitive for the upcoming election, deploying senior officers to oversee operations.

In districts expected to witness intense political contests, security arrangements are being led by Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs).

According to police officials, SSPs have been assigned to command election security in Jhapa, Ilam, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk and Rupandehi, among others.

SSP Govinda Adhikari has been deployed to lead security in Jhapa district for the 5 March House of Representatives election. He will oversee security operations in both Jhapa and Ilam. Similarly, Suresh Kafle has been assigned to Sarlahi and Rautahat; Nanti Raj Gurung to Dolakha; Binod Silwal to Kavrepalanchowk and Sindhupalchowk; Rishiram Kandel to Rupandehi and Kapilvastu; Janardan GC to Kaski and Syangja; and Rajendra Prasad Dhamala to Doti and Achham.

DIG Kafle said SSPs have been mobilised as additional support in 31 districts assessed as sensitive. “We have deployed SSPs in the Tarai districts and Superintendents of Police (SPs) in the hill districts to coordinate security,” he said.

In the hill region, 46 SPs have been mobilised to manage security arrangements. SSP Prabhu Dhakal has been assigned to oversee Sindhuli and Makwanpur, while SSP Dilip Ghimire will command security in Nuwakot and Rasuwa.

Jhapa has been identified as the most challenging district. In Jhapa-5 constituency, CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli is contesting against senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balendra Shah.

Former Speaker Devraj Ghimire and former Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar are also facing off in the district.

Anticipating a major political showdown between the UML and the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Nepal Police has deployed not only an SSP but also one more dedicated SP specifically to oversee security in Jhapa-5 constituency only.