The country is gearing up for the election of members of the House of Representatives. The Government of Nepal, the Election Commission, all security agencies, political parties, and concerned parties are making their own preparations for the election.

According to the integrated security strategy, the Armed Police Force Nepal, which is in the second circle of security, has also intensified its preparations. Regarding the preparations, the Spokesperson of the Armed Police Force Nepal and Deputy Inspector General of the Armed Police Manish Thapa An edited excerpt of an interview with RSS Chief Reporter Narayan Prasad Neupane and Reporter Ashok Ghimire:

The country is on the verge of elections, what is the peace and security situation in the Armed Police Force's understanding?

The peace and security situation in the country is strong. As the main security organization, the Armed Police Force Nepal has been working in coordination with other security agencies. The country is in the midst of elections. The entire organization has become active to conduct the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives in a peaceful, fearless and fair manner. The process of recruiting election police has begun. We have formed election cells at the Armed Police Force 'Headquarters', brigades and district levels and have made necessary arrangements, including training.

What security strategy has been adopted for the election?

All security strategies have been prepared to conduct the upcoming House of Representatives elections on Falgun 21 in a fair, fearless and peaceful environment. According to the same strategy, all four security forces will move forward with mutual cooperation and coordination. We have experience in successfully conducting elections in difficult circumstances before. Security arrangements will be made accordingly, addressing all three experiences and current needs.

How have the possible challenges in the elections been viewed?

To conduct the elections in a clean, fair and fearless environment, the constituencies have been classified as highly sensitive, sensitive and normal. Accordingly, necessary deployments have been made in the brigades and districts. Two platoons have been kept on standby at the center as a 'Special Task Force' (STF). One platoon of 'Quick Reaction Team' has been arranged in each brigade. Similarly, a policy has been made to keep mobile striking, quick response teams and deployment teams in the battalions and battalions and deploy them accordingly. The entire security strategy is ready to conduct the election in a fair, fearless and peaceful environment. The Armed Police Force has been mobilized accordingly. There is no 'compromise' in the security.

How many personnel of the Armed Police Force are deployed during the election?

A total of 49,686 people, including 34,576 Armed Police Force personnel and 15,110 'Election Police', are mobilized during the election. Due to the shortage of necessary manpower, the Election Police are being recruited. Work is underway to strengthen the security system in coordination with other security bodies by focusing on the security challenges.

How will you manage if an uncomfortable situation arises during the election?

The Armed Police Force will provide security in the second circle during the election. The Armed Police Force is mobilized in coordination with the District Security Committee and other security bodies. We have adopted high alertness to prevent any untoward incident during the election. In any case, we have mobilized the Armed Police Force to reach the incident site within 10 minutes.

During the Genji movement, the escapee prisoners and looted weapons have been analyzed as the main security challenges. How has the Armed Police Force taken this?

The Armed Police Force is working in coordination with the Nepal Police and other security agencies. We have identified the security challenges. A significant number of escapee prisoners and looted weapons have been brought under control. There is no security challenge as the question has been raised.

Recently, the issue of the morale of the security forces has been raised. Is the situation as it has been commented on outside?

The morale of the Armed Police Force was high yesterday. It is still high today and will be high tomorrow. The morale of the security personnel dedicated to the nation and the people has not declined. Based on past experiences, we have deployed with high morale to make the upcoming elections successful. We will fulfill the responsibility of the elections easily.

What will be the role of the 15,000 election police deployed under the Armed Police Force?

The Armed Police Force is going to recruit 15,110 election police. Once the election police are selected, the Armed Police Force will have the required manpower. We will give them 10 days of training and mobilize them. The Armed Police Force will command them. A mobile team of 12 people will consist of seven Armed Police Force members and five Election Police members. They will reach the polling station and provide security.

The main responsibility of the Armed Police Force is also border security. What preparations have been made to prevent unwanted activities from the border area during the election?

The Armed Police Force has been mobilized with border security, internal security, revenue leakage control and disaster management as its main responsibilities as per the 14 mandates. Work is being done on how to make the border organized and secure during other times as well as during the election. Border Out Posts (BOPs) have also been mobilized in a coordinated manner to prevent any incidents during the election. Patrols are being conducted in coordination with counterpart organizations. Similarly, border security meetings are also being held from time to time.