Home Minister Ramesh Alekhar has said that the Armed Police Force has become a symbol of national pride due to the contribution made by the Armed Police Force in border security and prevention of illegal activities, disaster management and peace missions.

Addressing a special ceremony held at Halchok on Wednesday on the occasion of the 24th Armed Police Day, the Home Minister said that the Government of Nepal highly appreciates the work done by the Armed Police in the areas of natural or man-made disaster rescue such as floods, landslides, fires, earthquakes, accidents, and epidemics.

'The armed forces have faithfully performed their role in the rescue of people affected by natural disasters and epidemics, whether it is riot control and serious unrest,' the home minister said, 'the role of these people who continuously work in the service of the country and the people even in difficult situations and efficiently fulfill their responsibilities is the role of the country. It is very important for peace and stability.'

The Minister of Home Affairs said that the role of the armed police is important in raising the name of Nepal by working professionally in various peacekeeping missions at the call of the United Nations. He said that the Ministry is positive for further participation in the United Nations Federal Mission.

The Minister of Home Affairs, stating that the Armed Police is a 'dedicated' force to control crimes such as border and border pillar security, cross-border crime, illegal smuggling, human trafficking and drug trafficking, asked the Minister of Home Affairs to take steps to reduce such crimes through social work in the coming days . He said that efforts are being made to establish border outposts with provision of additional manpower to strengthen the Armed Police Force.

Stating that the government is always committed to increasing the capacity of the armed police force, expanding technology, manpower management and expanding facilities, the Home Minister said that the government is striving to strengthen all aspects necessary to develop the armed police as a more effective organization in the future.

Assuring that the government of Nepal and the Ministry of Home Affairs will provide guardianship for any problem that may arise in the performance of duty honestly, he said that the law on armed police will be registered in the parliament within a few days . Informing that the law has been drafted by including the voices of all officers and even the jawans, he said that the provision to retire after 16 years, which has been taken by armed police personnel for a long time, has been included in the law .

To protect the international border of the country, the cleaning of Dasgaja, removal of illegal structures and cultivation has been carried out in coordination with the counterparts. He informed that the organization has given high priority to the control of illegal smuggling and cross-border crime in the border area.

He made it clear that Sakaldarja is being operated by following the instructions of the government and carrying out the mandate given by the state in close coordination with all the security agencies . At the

ceremony, the Home Minister author presented the retired Deputy Inspector General of Armed Police Navraj Bista with the 'APF Lifetime Achievement Award' and the outstanding performance of the Deputy Inspector General of Police Ganesh Bahadur Thadamar of No. 3 Gadhimai Bahini with the 'Outstanding Bahini Award'. On that occasion, the Home Minister author launched the 'APF Year Book' published by the Armed Police Force.

During this, the players of the armed police performed judo, wushu and taekwondo games . On that occasion, the rescue of passengers stuck in the cable car and the safe release of the police chief, who was abducted while serving on a peace mission, were demonstrated.

Armed Police has been active in border security, internal security, revenue, customs and industrial security and disaster management during 24 years. The armed police has decided to celebrate the anti-narcotics year this year with the slogan 'Captain of a drug-free youth country, secure border is the foundation of a prosperous nation'.