Sources at the Home Ministry said Nepal Police and APF had initially demanded 6,000 and 4,000 more personnel respectively. Both the police forces have revised their original demands after the Home Ministry said they were ‘unfeasible.’
Currently, the total strength at Nepal Police is 56,064 while the number of APF personnel stands at 25,780.
Home Ministry spokesperson Nabin Ghimire confirmed the demands, but said things are still in the preliminary phase. “We have not yet reached any decision,” he said.
Once approved by the Home Ministry, the proposals will be sent to the Finance Ministry to establish availability of necessary resources, before being approved by the Cabinet.
The police demands come in the wake of an increase in organized crime by various armed groups including the Kirant Janawadi Workers’ Party and Limbuwan groups in the eastern hill districts and dozens of armed groups operating in the southern plains districts from Morang to Parsa.
Officials at Nepal Police Headquarters complain that they have been unable to curb criminal activities by armed groups as they are short on manpower.
Currently, Nepal Police undertakes regular policing activities across the country, while APF personnel have been deputed as a back up force and for the security of important government installations and customs points.
Senior police officials say a decision to recruit additional police personnel is being delayed as the issue of Maoist combatants is yet to be addressed. Altogether 19,602 UN-verified Maoist combatants, many of whom are expected to become part of the state security agencies, are currently living in cantonments.
The government has been paying each Maoist combatant Rs 5,000 a month as allowance.
“The indecision is costing us dear in terms of the law and order situation,” says a senior police officer who prefers to remain unnamed. “This has hindered the process of acquiring additional forces needed for curbing organized crime.”
Normally, the ratio of police personnel to the general populace is not less than one policeman for 300 civilians in urban areas and 500 in rural areas. “The ratios in Nepal are far lower,” says Deputy Inspector General Binod Singh, who is also the spokesperson for Nepal Police.
Currently, the ratio of Nepal Police personnel to the general populace is 1: 482 for an estimated total population of 27 million in the country.
Since the start of the Maoist conflict in 1996, the number of security personnel has been continually on the increase.
While the numerical strength of the Nepal Army has now reached 92,000-plus, up from 40,000, the government also formed a separate Armed Police Force eight years ago to counter Maoist activities. Bloated security sector expenditure has been at the cost of development and social service activities in Nepal.
Number of police personnel at a glance
Nepal Police
2050 BS 33,106
2051 BS 36,672
2052 BS 39,457
2053 BS 40,792
2054 BS 40,797
2055 BS 45,412
2056 BS 51,374
2057 BS 44,348*
2058 BS 46,444
2059 BS 46,480
2060 BS 46,480
2061 BS 47,411
2062 BS 47,411
2063 BS 53,557
2064 BS 56,064
*APF formed
Armed Police Force
2057 BS 15,390 (7,026 Nepal Police +8364 Nepal Army)
2058 BS 15,396
2059 BS 15,396
2060 BS 16,918
2061 BS 20,428
2062 BS 20,428
2063 BS 24,278
2064 BS 25,780
koshraj@myrepublica.com
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