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MoHA: Tight security in place for Sunday polls
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has said adequate security measures are in place for the first phase of federal parliament and provincial assembly elections.Kamal Dev Bhattarai
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has said adequate security measures are in place for the first phase of federal parliament and provincial assembly elections.
The first phase of polls will be held on Sunday. MoHA’s assurance follows heightened security concerns in the wake of a series of attacks on candidates and election rallies of late.
Issuing a press statement, MoHA said anti-election activities “are fully under control”.
The Election Commission (EC) has already started setting up polling centres.
Voting on Sunday will take place at 4,465 polling centres in 32 districts to elect 37 members for the federal parliament and 74 members for the provincial assemblies.
“The Home Ministry is fully capable of providing adequate security to political parties, candidates, voters and members of the general public,” MoHA Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Sharma said in a statement.
The ministry said there will be three layers of security arrangement by Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Army.
Similarly, back-up forces will remain in standby position in sensitive districts.
Stating that the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal, the only force that is opposing the elections, is a major threat to poll security, the Home Ministry has instructed security officials to keep a close eye on its cadres.
According to ministry sources, over 400 leaders and cadres of the Chand-led party have been arrested so far.
The Nepal Army, which will be providing the third layer security, will provide security to ballot boxes after the voting.
Similarly, NA is conducting aerial and land patrolling.
“Our duties and responsibilities are well defined and we are committed to fulfilling them,” said Army Spokesperson Brig Gen Nain Raj Dahal.