KATHMANDU, April 25:  Nepal Police plans to deploy 1,024 personnel in the upcoming by-elections being held in Ilam and Bajhang on Saturday. 

Bhim Prasad Dhakal, the Central Police Spokesperson, said that polling stations are categorized into three levels, namely normal, sensitive, and highly sensitive, as per the security assessment.

The by-elections will determine the House of Representatives seat in Ilam-2 and Provincial Assembly members in Bajhang-1. DIG Dhakal revealed that Ilam has 71 normal, 41 sensitive, and 37 highly sensitive polling stations. Based on the level of sensitivity, 1,363 officers will be stationed at these centers.

“In Bajhang, 31 centers are classified as normal, 30 as sensitive and 32 as highly sensitive. Likewise, 1,024 personnel will be deployed there,” Dhakal said. 

President Ram Chandra Paudel has authorized the army to be deployed in the by-elections on Thursday. Dhakal further said that the election will be conducted in a peaceful environment with the cooperation of all security agencies.

He said that additional police personnel are on standby and ready for deployment, if needed. “Police personnel are fully prepared to manage election-related activities,” Dhakal said.