The government plans to deploy around 314,000 security personnel for the House of Representatives elections on March 5, including 130,000 temporary police.

The Home Ministry said the force will comprise roughly 79,000 from the Nepali Army, 72,000 from the Nepal Police, 33,000 from the Armed Police Force, and 130,000 temporary police to be hired for the elections. The numbers may be adjusted once the Election Commission finalises the total number of voters and polling stations across the country.

Home Ministry spokesperson Anand Kafle said the plan was developed based on learnings from the 2022 elections and evolving security challenges. On Sunday, the security committee approved the “Integrated Security Plan–2025,” deciding to deploy the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department, and temporary police. Deployment of the army will require a recommendation from the National Security Council to the Cabinet and presidential approval.

The deployment will begin on November 26. The election security plan was developed by individual and joint teams from all four security agencies. On September 25, a central security committee formed a task force led by Kafle to consolidate the plan. Drafts from the army, police, armed police, and National Investigation Department were reviewed and approved by the committee on Sunday.

The plan highlights key security threats, including weapons and ammunition looted during the Gen Z protests, escaped prisoners, potential clashes between parties demanding House reinstatement and their opponents, and confrontations involving Gen Z supporters. It also accounts for past damage and unrest from the movement, including threats to political leaders and cadres.

In response to the unrest, the army, police, and armed police have carried out joint patrols nationwide over the past month. For the election, security forces will operate both jointly and individually, with areas classified as highly sensitive, sensitive, or general for deployment.

Currently, about 100,000 army personnel, 80,000 police, and 37,000 armed police are on duty. The plan requires all, except those on essential or office duty, to be deployed for the elections.

During the Gen Z protests in September, government, private, and public properties were damaged, and 14,043 detainees escaped from 28 prisons and juvenile correction facilities nationwide.

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal recently said that of the inmates fleeing the prisons, 9,521 have returned to jails while 5,105 remain at large.