Security checks at border checkpoints tightened to prevent weapons and explosives from entering from across the border that could affect the elections
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All four security forces have deployed special mechanisms to control the weapons stolen and prisoners who escaped during the protests on Bhadra 24. With the aim of conducting the upcoming House of Representatives elections safely, the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force (APF) and the National Investigation Department have deployed their respective mechanisms in all 77 districts.
The ‘Election Integrated Security Action Plan-2082’ has identified prisoners who escaped from prison and stolen weapons as a security challenge. About 1,300 weapons of the Nepal Police were stolen/lost during the protests about 6 months ago. Of these, 400 weapons have not been found yet. About 100,000 rounds of police ammunition were also missing from the records.
During the investigation, about 14,000 prisoners and detainees, including those in police custody, those under trial, and those convicted by the court and serving prison sentences, also escaped. Of these, about 4,000 prisoners and detainees are absconding.
It is estimated that the use of bombs and explosives in the elections will also disrupt peace and security. The government had issued instructions to surrender licensed weapons and ammunition held by various individuals to the administration until the results of the election are announced. Out of more than 21,000 licensed weapons held by various individuals, only about 5,000 have been surrendered to the administration so far.
According to officials from all four security agencies deployed for election security and management, special operations have been launched to monitor individuals and groups who may create unrest through the use of bombs and explosives and to prevent misuse of registered weapons. For this purpose, the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force have mobilized a mechanism including a special bureau. The Nepal Army's 'Intelligence Unit' has also been mobilized for this. The Department of Investigation has also deployed its own mechanism.
After the destruction of 24 Bhadra, the security agencies had mobilized a mechanism to control the looted weapons and escaped prisoners. But a police official said that since a large number of weapons and prisoners are still outside, the mechanism has been deployed across the country again. The official said that they have also been kept under surveillance as there is a risk of unrest from the parties and groups opposing the election.
The Armed Police Force has tightened security checks at the international border crossings to prevent weapons and explosives from entering from India that could affect the election. It has been decided to 'seal' the international border crossings of both countries for 72 hours on the day of voting and before that. However, the Armed Police Force has stated that the border crossings have been further tightened as there is a risk that criminal individuals and groups may bring in weapons and explosives even before that.
India has a border of about 1,880 km from Taplejung to Kanchanpur. The Armed Police Force has 249 Border Out Posts (BOPs) for border security on the Indian side. Currently, security checks have been tightened by increasing the number of checkpoints through those BOPs. "In addition to the BOP, armed forces have been deployed at about 1,000 points in the border area to tighten checks on movement and goods carried by passengers," said an armed forces official.
