Almost half of the polling centres have been listed as most sensitive that might witness violence and other anti-election activities during the first phase of the local level elections taking place on May 14, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) said on Tuesday. 

Among the 6,642 polling centres in 34 districts, the ministry has identified as highly sensitive 3,000 polling centres that are based in districts, including Chitwan, Makwanpur, Sindhuli, Rasuwa, Rukum, Jajarkot, Salyan and Dailekh. 

Anti-polling programmes, including vandalism and arson instigated by cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal, are major threats facing these districts and polling centres, according to the ministry.

“Activities such as vandalism, arson or threat will affect voters’ turnout. So we have directed all our units to adopt a zero tolerance policy against anyone who runs anti-election activities,” said Home Ministry Spokesperson Bal Krishna Panthee.  

The integrated security plan developed by the ministry has recommended that security should be heightened in districts of Province 6, including Dailekh, Jajarkot, Kalikot, Salyan and Rukum. Also, security agencies have reported to the ministry about security risks in some hill districts of Province 4, including Gorkha, Lamjung and Parbat.

Under the ministry’s basic arrangement, 15 personnel—five police, six temporary police backed up by a striking team of Armed Police Force—will be deployed to secure each polling centre, with another 10-member APF mobile team guarding the entire polling station. Each of these teams will be backed by a team of Army personnel. 

“This arrangement is subject to change given the security analysis of each district,” said Panthee. “The presence of security personnel can be increased in accordance to security situations. All of these decisions can be made by Chief District Officers.”

The Nepal Police teams will be led by Inspector or DSP, while APF striking teams will be under SP or DSP. Each of these police teams will be controlled by a central command centre based at the Nepal Police Headquarters led by Deputy Inspector General of Police.  

According to the election security plan, the Nepal Police will hold command of the voting centres and booths, with the APF providing a backup. The Army will be mobilised in the peripheral areas of the polling stations, while the temporary police personnel will manage voters’ queues.

Over 100,000 security personnel in 34 districts

The government has decided to deploy over 100,000 security personnel for the first phase of the elections that will be held in 34 districts of provinces 3,4 and 6.

According to the Home Ministry, 22,956 Nepal Police personnel, 24,477 temporary police and 17,356 Armed Police Force personnel will be deployed, while over 40,000 Nepal Army personnel will support the security agencies to secure polling stations and centres across the country.