KATHMANDU, MAY 10The Ministry of Home Affairs said robust security arrangements were in place across the country to prevent any untoward incident before, during, or after the local level elections scheduled for May 13. Home Minister Khand directs security agencies to organise election peacefully Security beefed up along Nepal-India border Issuing a press release, MoHA claimed that security was beefed up for the elections in a reliable manner to ensure that no citizen would be deprived of their constitutional right to vote merely on the ground of security reasons.

MoHA also urged all to exercise their voting rights without fear. "Around 260,000 personnel from Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department and temporary police have been deployed for elections in line with the Integrated Security Plan," the MoHA said, adding that security agencies would also conduct ground and aerial patrolling during elections to ensure that voting takes place smoothly without any untoward incident.Nepal Police personnel and temporary cops have been deployed inside the polling centres while APF and NA personnel will man the second and the outermost ring, respectively.Security personnel have bee mobilised in such a way that they can reach anywhere within 10 to15 minutes.

The security arrangements will be in place until the victory rally of political parties after announcement of the final results of civic polls.Each polling station has already received election logistics and is under full security cover.

MoHA warned that any person or group involved in intimidating and threatening voters, candidates, and employees deputed at polling stations would be dealt with ruthlessly.Security agencies will mainly focus on the security of voters, election candidates, political leaders, general public, election officials, warehouses of election logistics, polling stations and ballot counting centres, among others.The MoHA has carried out comprehensive security mapping of each polling centre on the basis of threat assessment.It has also classified polling stations into three categories - normal, sensitive and highly sensitive - for security purpose.Nepal Police has been given the responsibility of a first responder if any untoward incident takes place.According to the MoHA, back-up security force has also been kept on standby in the district headquarters.

In addition, there are striking teams, bomb disposal squads and aerial patrol teams.

Each district has a seven-member district election security committee headed by chief district officer.A version of this article appears in the print on May 11, 2022, of The Himalayan Times. .

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