In view of the incidents of violence occurring in the run-up to the local level elections, the Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed its subordinate units to heighten security for Sunday’s vote while bringing in forces from the provinces where the polls are scheduled to be held in the second phase on June 14.

The ministry directed the District Administration Offices to review their security plans after a CPN-UML activist, Kul Bahadur Tamang, was killed in a clash between the supporters of the UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) in Dolakha on Tuesday night while a local school teacher sustained critical injuries. In Rukum, at least three persons were injured when supporters of the UML and the Maoists clashed in Musikot, the district headquarters, on Wednesday.

“We are concerned about the killing and violent clashes. We have asked our units to do their best to thwart such clashes and beef up security,” said Bal Krishna Panthee, spokesperson for the Home Ministry.

“We have been asking all the parties to keep security agencies in the loop about their election related programmes so that they can make necessary security arrangements. In case of threat to any candidate, they can inform the CDO and the police chief who will provide additional security.”

Panthee said the district security committees chaired by the CDO have been asked to make necessary adjustments to their plans. In need, the committee is authorised seek additional deployment from the Regional Police Office.

Given the sporadic cases of violence in the districts, the Nepal Police in the last couple of days deployed an additional 10,000 personnel in districts deemed sensitive including Dolakha, Sindhuli, Rasuwa, Rukum, Jajarkot, Salyan and Dailekh. In Dolakha, the police headquarters immediately deployed a team from the Central Investigation Bureau and Zonal Police Office, Janakpur to investigate the case.

Also, joint police teams have been asked to increase patrols in the districts.

The government has decided to deploy more than 100,000 security personnel for the first phase of elections that will be held in 34 districts of provinces 3, 4 and 6. According to the Home Ministry, more than 30,000 Nepal Police personnel, 24,477 temporary police and 17,356 Armed Police Force members will be mobilised, while over 40,000 Army personnel will support them to secure polling stations and centres.

The ballot papers and boxes required for the 676 polling centres in Kathmandu Valley have been delivered. Security personnel were able to supply the materials to many rural areas of Lalitpur finally on Thursday. CDOs of all the three districts confirmed the delivery of election materials by the Army personnel.

“We are now ready for the polls. Distribution of identity cards is underway,” said Deepak Kafle, the Lalitpur CDO. He said adequate security has been arranged in far-flung areas of the district including Bhattedanda where the polling centres are not accessible by road.

Kathmandu has 320 polling centres while 265 centres have been designated in Lalitpur. In Bhaktapur, there are 191 polling centres. CDO Him Nath Dawadi said they have begun reshuffling of the temporary police hired in the district.

Five Nepal Police personnel and six temporary recruits will be backed by teams of the APF and the Army at a polling unit. In an emergency, the CDO is authorised to increase the numbers. The government plans to deploy more than 3,000 personnel in polling stations and centres in the Valley.