Valley
70,000 temporary police recruits on cards for local polls
The government is planning to hire around 70,000 Myadi (temporary) police personnel for the upcoming local level elections.Manish Gautam
The government is planning to hire around 70,000 Myadi (temporary) police personnel for the upcoming local level elections.
In a briefing by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Election Commission on Tuesday evening, officials said their threat analysis showed they will need 50,000 to 70,000 temporary police recruits.
Former Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Nepal Army personnel will be prioritised in recruitment after a thorough background check on their political affiliations, ministry officials told the EC.
They also asked the election authority to designate voting stations and booths for timely security deployment. “The stations and booths in sensitive zones will need more personnel,” said Home Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi.
In a meeting on Sunday, Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said security agencies should be equipped well to thwart any challenges that might affect voting. He asked the ministry to direct subordinate agencies to strictly implement the election code of conduct.
In the second Constituent Assembly elections in 2013, the government had deployed around 45,000 temporary police. The ministry said it will deploy more than 150,000 security personnel in total.
As per an arrangement, Nepal Police will provide security in the inner circle of voting booths and stations while the APF will serve as a back-up force. Although not finalised, the outer security ring will be formed by the Army.
“Without deployment of Nepal Army, other security agencies cannot function effectively,” said a Home Ministry source. “We hope the government will soon take its decision on Army deployment.”
The government had arranged for more than 200,000 security personnel during the second CA polls.
Rs25 billion budget
Home Secretary Regmi said they will seek between Rs20 billion and Rs25 billion for security force mobilisation for the May 14 elections. He said a proposal would be sent to the Cabinet soon. Regmi said they will need an additional 1,000 vehicles for guarding the polls.