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Police restructuring proposal could create conflict: Experts
Describing the new structure proposed for Nepal Police in the federal set-up as a hotchpotch of provisions, experts have warned that it would create a conflict between the central and provincial security forces if implemented in the current form.Manish Gautam
Describing the new structure proposed for Nepal Police in the federal set-up as a hotchpotch of provisions, experts have warned that it would create a conflict between the central and provincial security forces if implemented in the current form.
The proposed structure centralises most of the power including crime investigation in the central police, creating questions about the role and status of the provincial police forces.
According to the proposal, the central police will investigate smuggling and production of drugs and arms and ammunition, human trafficking, organised and cyber crimes, and terrorism, among others.
But the proposal for restructuring leaves unaddressed questions who would be responsible for dealing with inter-provincial crimes.
“Our provinces are really small. A person can commit crimes in one province and reach another province in two hours,” said Nepal Army Gen Bala Nanda Sharma (retired) at a programme organised at the police headquarters on Monday. “Or they can even enter into another country. All of these issues should be carefully sorted out.”
Sharma feared that such unclear demarcation might render the provincial police forces ineffective.
The restructuring document states that the Central Police will include the Central Investigation Bureau, the Special Bureau and the Women and Children Service Division.
The provincial police forces are seen to be limited to analysing crime situations and report to the central police. Although the report states that provincial forces will be involved in enforcing laws to curb crimes, it is not clear what sorts of crime they will look into.
Shobhakar Budhathoki, a security expert, said the central police should only take up disputed cases and jump in where the provincial police fall short of investigation.
Such duplication will eventually affect the functioning of the security agency, said Budhathoki, stressing the need for functional autonomy for provincial police to work smoothly.