The government has appointed Additional Inspector General (AIG) Deepak Thapa as the 31st Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP). A Cabinet meeting on Monday evening, picked Thapa, who was previously the head of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), for the coveted post.

Thapa’s appointment comes after the retirement of Basant Kunwar, who had served as the 30th IGP of Nepal Police. Kunwar, having completed a 30-year career in the force, officially retired on Monday. Kunwar had joined the police service in March, 1995.

Along with Kunwar, other senior officials including AIGs Tek Prasad Rai, Buddhiraj Gurung, Durga Singh, Kuber Kadayat, and Janak Bhattarai, who had been his batchmate are also retiring. Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) Dhruba Raut, Bhola Rawal, and Ganesh Chand, will also retire soon, marking the end of an era for many long-serving officers.

Deepak Thapa, who joined Nepal Police in September 1995, as an inspector, became a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in August, 2006, and later promoted to Superintendent of Police (SP) in July 2015. His rise continued with his promotion to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in February 2019, and then to DIG in July 2022. Thapa was appointed as an Additional Inspector General (AIG) in March 2023.

Thapa was one of three recommendees for the role of IGP. Alongside him, AIGs Sudip Giri, head of the National Police Training Academy, and Tek Bahadur Tamang, the chief of Kathmandu Valley Police Office, were also in contention. However, the government picked Thapa citing his seniority, efficiency, and track record. His term as IGP lasts until September 3, 2025.