KATHMANDU, Jan 27: With the House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5, the government has established a Central Security Command Post under the leadership of the Home Secretary to oversee nationwide election security. The decision followed a meeting of the National Security Council on Monday.
The Command Post, led by Home Secretary Raj Kumar Shrestha, brings together senior officials from all four security agencies and will function under the directives of the Central Security Committee. Representatives from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force (APF), and the National Investigation Department (NID) are part of the body.
Alongside this, a Central Joint Election Cell has been set up at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) under the coordination of Joint Secretary Anand Kafle, Head of the Security Coordination Division, with participation from all security agencies.
Central command post formed for rescue operations
The Command Post and Election Cell were formed after the MoHA finalized the “Integrated Security Plan for the House of Representatives Election–2082 BS,” aimed at ensuring a free, credible, impartial, and fear-free election environment. All four security agencies and District Administration Offices have begun implementing the plan.
At the provincial level, Provincial Command Posts and Election Cells have already been formed under the coordination of provincial Chief Secretaries. Heads of security agencies and the secretaries responsible for internal affairs serve as members, while Chief District Officers (CDOs) have been included as invited members at the district level.
In view of the current security situation, the Central Command Post will focus on strengthening inter-agency coordination, ensuring real-time information sharing, and managing proactive security measures in sensitive areas. All four security agencies have also established command posts within their respective institutions and started operations.
Under the first security ring, Nepal Police will handle general security duties, while the Nepali Army will be responsible for ballot box security. The APF will be deployed across all constituencies—highly sensitive, sensitive, and normal—and will operate in the second security ring in coordination with other agencies. All deployed security personnel will receive election security training prior to their assignments.
To strengthen supervision and coordination, the Nepal Police has set up command posts and cells at both the central and provincial levels. The APF has established Brigade Election Cells at brigade headquarters and Battalion/Barrack Election Cells at district levels. Security forces will be deployed in mobile and striking teams, QRT/reserve units, constituency security, security bases, command posts and JEOCs, office security and standby duties, and to protect district election offices and offices of chief election officers.
The government is also moving ahead with the establishment of security bases, which are expected to be set up within the next few days—about a month ahead of the polls. According to MoHA, striking and mobile teams will be mobilized with full logistical arrangements 15 days before the election.
For provincial-level coordination, all seven provinces have formed Provincial Command Posts led by Chief Secretaries, along with Provincial Election Cells under the leadership of secretaries of the provincial Ministries of Internal Affairs and Law. The MoHA said that security mechanisms in all 77 districts have also been activated under the leadership of Chief District Officers to ensure smooth and secure elections.
