The Home Ministry has directed Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force to return within a week all their personnel deputed to the residences of VIPs on duties other than security.

The ministry on Friday asked the police forces also to return 315 personnel deputed for the security of former senior officers of Nepal Police. Most of the personnel sent for the security of retired officers were found to have been exploited as domestic workers and drivers.

After complaints of exploitation and reports of people having no security threats also using them as personal security officer (PSO), the ministry ordered their return within seven days.

Even as retired police officers could have security personnel deployed through the District Administration Office based on the security threat, officers having no perceived threats have also been misusing the provision.

The ministry also called back 45 personnel deputed in excess numbers for the security of former and incumbent senior police officers.

After the order, 40 of the 49 personnel deputed for the security of former and sitting police officers without formal decision have already been asked back. Around 500 APF personnel have been deputed for the security of VIPs and retired senior APF officers.

According to the reports of both the forces, personnel were deputed at the residences of political leaders and former home secretaries apparently for their security.

On April 2, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, in his 82-point plan for improving the Home administration, promised to return all the police personnel deployed for purposes other than security by May 14.

Friday’s move was a step towards implementing the plan within the time frame. The NP headquarters recently recalled the PSOs of former top office-bearers including Nepali Congress leaders Chitra Lekha Yadav, Ramesh Lekhak, Arjun Narsingh KC and Minendra Rijal. It also took away the PSOs from former chief justices Kalyan Shrestha and Ram Prasad Shrestha, and former health ministers Uma Kanta Chaudhary and Ram Janam Chaudhary.

Ministry sources said more than 3,000 police personnel could have been working as domestic workers and drivers of VIPs and senior police officers but it was difficult to trace them.