Even now, Dhungana, who has been a 'field policeman' 10 times, has witnessed three decades of political developments.
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Tanka Prasad Dhungana of Mangalsen-5, Achham, was first recruited into the 'Myadi' police force in 2048 at the age of 18. Even after 34 years, he has been recruited into the election police.
‘Temporary police recruited during elections were earlier called temporary police,’ he said, ‘now they are called election police.’ These are the words that have changed the way he has seen it from multi-party to gen-ji.
When he was first recruited, his parents used to say goodbye by applying dahi-chamal tika. This time, when three grandchildren came home, they sent them saying, ‘Bring sweets, grandpa.’ ‘Those who are currently undergoing training also say grandpa,’ he said, ‘Many sons and grandchildren have become friends of their own age in my life.’ The family has a wife, two sons and two daughters. The children request him to stay home during the elections. The eldest son has also completed his studies and is staying home. The youngest son is studying engineering.
‘I have three grandchildren from my two daughters,’ he said, ‘They also say they do not need to become temporary police officers anymore.’
He said that this time the election will be the last recruitment of his ‘temporary’ journey. ‘As the rules allow up to 54 years of age, I did not miss the opportunity this time either. How many times have I taken risks and saved my ballot,’ he said, ‘How much does the country remember me? Time will tell.’
Even now, Dhungana, who has become a ‘field policeman’ 10 times, has witnessed the political developments of three decades. Dhungana, who is deployed at polling stations for election security in every election, said that he has closely observed the election activities. He became a temporary policeman for the first time in the election held on 29 Baisakh 048. He said that he had a different experience while carrying out security responsibilities in the first general election after the multi-party system. ‘The responsibility was to protect the ballot box and polling station,’ he said. ‘At that time, many people were able to exercise their right to vote for the first time, so there was excitement, fear, and anxiety about what would happen next.’
He first saw tension and instability during the 2051 mid-term elections. He was deployed as a temporary policeman for the second time. According to him, there was pressure from his family not to become a temporary policeman, saying that political instability and rigging would put his life in danger. But he did not stop. ‘I first saw the instability of the party, the tense atmosphere in that election,’ he said. ‘There were disagreements among the voters, and if slogans were raised, it was very difficult to protect the polling station.’
In 2054, the local body elections were held. At that time, he became a temporary policeman for the third time. He says that he saw a different scene in the local body elections. ‘People from his own village and neighborhood became candidates in that election,’ he said. ‘They also requested him not to become a temporary policeman by asking him to go on the campaign trail.’ He said that since then, the general public has started talking about the development of their village. ‘Candidates would seek votes with the agenda of roads, bridges, and drinking water,’ he said.
The first Constituent Assembly member election in 2064 was historic for Dhungana. Ten years later, he became a temporary policeman for the fourth time. For the first time, the people voted for ‘Nepal without a king’. He saw excitement and fear in the first Constituent Assembly member election. ‘There was conflict and instability in the country. There was talk that going to vote would put his life in danger,’ he said. ‘Even though my family tried to stop me from becoming a temporary policeman, I did not agree.’
At that time, the Achham Durbar, which was located near his house, was destroyed by the then Maoist rebels. Hundreds died in the Maoist attack. ‘They would remind me that the election is dangerous, you are still young, you can work as you please,’ he recalled. ‘I became a temporary policeman again because I knew that in difficult times, I should go to election security.’
The second Constituent Assembly election was held in 2070. He became a temporary policeman for the fifth time. ‘That election was important as the last attempt to create a constitution,’ he said, ‘even then, I stood at the polling station and became a witness to history.’ He also became a temporary policeman in the local elections in 2074. He also played the role of a temporary policeman in the local, House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly elections in 2079.
