Only 98 days remain until the elections. However, the weapons looted from the Nepal Police during the Gen Z protests have still not been fully recovered while more than 4,500 inmates remain at large.

Focusing on the events of September 8 and 9, the developments that followed, and the upcoming elections, Kantipur Television’s Kiran Paudel sat down for an interview with Nepal Police spokesperson Avi Narayan Kafle. Excerpts.

What is the Nepal Police doing to recover the looted weapons?

The Nepal Police has launched a dedicated campaign to recover the missing weapons. Some have been found burned, some buried under debris from vandalised police offices. So far, we have been able to recover more than 35 percent of the weapons. From the Police Headquarters down to local police units, this has been set as a top priority. Committees have been formed in every district specifically for weapon recovery.

Have the escaped inmates committed new crimes? Were any incidents carried out using the looted police weapons?

Yes, several fugitives have been found involved in crimes ranging from murder to robbery. However, none of the recent incidents have been found to involve the stolen police weapons.

What is being done to re-arrest the inmates from the prison breaks of September 9?

A dedicated task desk led by senior officers has been formed nationwide to bring the fugitives back into custody. At present, recovering weapons and arresting escaped inmates are our top priorities.

A focal person at the Deputy Superintendent (DSP) level has been appointed in every province, and senior officers have been designated as focal persons in every district. Notices have been published in newspapers, and the lists of fugitives have been circulated down to all local police units.

We are working closely with other security agencies. There is no need for panic; the Nepal Police is committed to public safety.

More than 600 foreign inmates and detainees have also escaped. What is being done to bring them back?

For foreign fugitives, we are coordinating with the Home Ministry and, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are blocking their passports and preventing issuance of new ones. Border security has been tightened, airports are under special surveillance, and coordination is ongoing with partner countries.

What preparations are being made for election security?

Once the Integrated Security Plan was approved by the Central Security Committee, it has already been circulated to the districts. District Security Committees are also preparing their respective plans. Under the mandate given to us in the Integrated Security Plan, we are working in coordination with other security agencies to conduct the elections safely and without fear.

Because elections are a shared national process, all agencies are working together to ensure a conducive environment. The police are also giving special attention to intelligence gathering.

How many security personnel will be deployed for the elections?

The exact number will be known only after polling centres are finalised.

But the number of polling stations is fixed, and deployment will be based on the classification of those centres. Temporary police (Myadi Prahari) will also be mobilised.

How many temporary police personnel will be recruited?

The final number is not yet confirmed, but based on the current situation, it appears that 132,000 to 150,000 temporary police personnel will be required.

How many people have been arrested in connection with the Gen Z protests? How many cases have been registered?

So far, 580 people have been arrested and 278 cases have been registered.

Most of the cases involve criminal disturbances. There are also several cases related to indecent behavior and theft.

Which officers from the Nepal Police are being questioned regarding the protests of September 8 and 9?

The Investigation Commission is taking statements from the officers who were deployed in the field on those two days. Once the process is completed, we will provide further updates.