The Election Commission on Monday asked the security agencies to submit detailed security operation plans for the upcoming local level elections.

In a meeting with the chiefs of security agencies held at the EC, the election authority sought security plans for polling stations, ballot papers and boxes, district election offices and election officers’ offices in all the 744 local units.

Election Commissioner Narendra Dahal said they have demanded the security plans in the next meeting. “Though the Home Ministry has prepared an election security plan, we have sought details on its implementation,” he added.

The meeting was attended by top officials of Nepal Army, Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, the National Investigation Department, and the Home Ministry.

Given the volatile situation in the Tarai districts, especially following Monday’s incident in Saptari, Dahal said the EC was concerned about the situation in the plains.

“We will hold a separate meeting about the security situation in the Tarai once we get the details

of the situation there.” Many districts in the Tarai are always considered “most sensitive” due to the presence of armed outfits and the porous border with India.

The government has decided to deploy 226,000 security personnel, including temporary police personnel, for the local elections scheduled for May 14. According to the election security plan finalised by the Home Ministry last Thursday, Nepal Police will guard the voting centres and booths while the APF will provide back-up security. The Army would be mobilised in the peripheral areas of the polling stations. The temporary police recruits will arrange voters in queues.

Deployment of the NA for election security, however, has not been formally approved. The Home Ministry is preparing to write to the Defence Ministry in this regard.

A meeting of the National Security Council, chaired by the prime minister, decides on Army deployment. Supporters of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal and CK Raut, an “Independent Madhes” campaigner, have been identified as potential threats to the polls.