Security agencies have claimed preparations for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5 are in the final phase.

The Nepali Army and Nepal Police said they have prepared security strategies for all seven provinces and finalised plans to deploy personnel accordingly. A joint team, including the Nepali Army, is set to begin patrols from next week.

Nepali Army spokesperson Rajaram Basnet said security would be provided from the third security ring in coordination with local administrations, election officers and other security agencies. “In addition, the Nepali Army will also conduct aerial patrols,” he said.

As political parties have raised questions over election security, preparations are underway to deploy joint teams of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and election police. The Nepali Army plans to mobilise around 89,000 soldiers, while the Nepal Police is preparing to deploy nearly 150,000 personnel, including election police.

The Armed Police Force said it will also mobilise personnel as required. The Nepali Army said it will deploy security units in three phases: before the election, during polling and after the election. Keeping 165 constituencies in view, the Army plans to mobilise resources, including aerial patrols, from four locations: eastern region, Kathmandu, central region and Sudurpaschim.

The Army will also conduct area patrolling in the election constituencies.

According to Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle, personnel, including election police, will be deployed in the first, second and third security rings as required. “The number of police personnel will be determined based on whether an area is normal, sensitive or highly sensitive,” he said. On average, a polling station will have around 13 polling centres, with about 80 personnel deployed, including police and election police.

The Army and police said preparations are focused on strengthening security for ballot boxes, candidates, voters and polling officials. For ballot box security, Nepal Police and election police will remain in the first and second rings, while the Nepali Army and Armed Police Force will be deployed in the third ring.

Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force have already begun a 10-day training programme for election police. With just around a month remaining before the elections, security agencies have urged voters to participate without fear.