KATHMANDU, July 16: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, has assured that the security agencies would remain independent of any political influence, power centers, or money game while discharging their duties.

In a meeting held today with former senior officials of security agencies to discuss the 'strengthening of peace and security,' the DPM said that the ministry and its subordinate bodies would strictly adhere to the Constitution, laws, and their designated responsibilities.

"We are devising comprehensive plans to enhance the overall performance of the home ministry and its subordinate bodies," he stated. Furthermore, he said the home ministry has asked the Nepal Police to ensure impartial, independent, and efficient investigations into any incident. He said, "Police investigations are guided by laws, facts and evidence."

He revealed that during the course of investigating cases of corruption and crime, complaints from respective areas are received.             

When someone involved in irregularities in the political, administrative, or business sectors is on the verge of being brought under the purview of the law, there may be protests from people within their respective sectors, according to the DPM, who questioned, "Is it possible to promote the rule of law in such a situation and is the law applied only to the general public?"

"The culture of groupism has deeply affected Nepal Police as an institution," he said, adding that the government was actively working to intervene and eradicate such detrimental practices from the organization.

He hoped that security bodies would gather pace if intervention from the political leadership, power centers, and economic influence is prevented by promoting the rule of law.

He said that he had proposed to parliament to remove the provision about 30-year service in the police organization. The Inspector General of Police is highly positive about the proposal, he said, adding that he was told that the IGP was ready to sacrifice for the removal of the provision.

Expressing his determination to implementing the provision of voluntary retirement of police constables and head constables completing 16 years of service and assistant sub-inspectors and sub-inspector completing 18 years of service, getting the pension in 20 years, the DPM and Home Minister said the matter is being discussed with the Ministry of Finance.

As he said, the home ministry is taking initiatives to boost the morale of police constables, head constables and sub-inspectors.

"The police have to work 24 hours; how can we work with a 'depressed force'? Discussion is on with the Public Service Commission to make the promotion of the police constables and the junior officers regular," he asserted.

Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal's former IGs and AIGs lauded the steps taken by the present government to control corruption and promote good governance.

On the occasion, they gave suggestions for policy and structural reforms, timely increment in the pay and perks and benefits, paying attention to career development of police personnel, making the transfer, promotion and foreign training predictable, dissuading impunity, and bringing the National Investigation Department under the Home Ministry. 

Home Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai, Inspector General of Nepal Police Basana Kunwar, APF Nepal's Inspector General Raju Aryal, high-level officials of the home ministry, former police chiefs and former high police officers were present in the interaction.

 
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