SURKHET: The Karnali Provincial Police Office has begun shifting its units that are based in Lumbini Province. The Nepalgunj-based Special Security Battalion of Nepal Police was relocated to Gumi in Gurbhakot Municipality-14 of Surkhet on Thursday.
A high-level delegation, led by Officiating Prime Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Provincial Finance Minister Bedraj Singh, Law Minister Krishna Bahadur GC, Energy Minister Urmila BK, and Karnali Provincial Police Chief Bhim Dhakal oversaw the relocation of the police unit to Gumi. “Thirty-five police personnel have already transitioned to the new battalion in Gumi,” Dhakal said.
The Special Security Battalion has 500 personnel.
The Karnali Province Government allocated Rs 19.4 million to prepare temporary structures for the battalion in Gumi. According to Dhakal, the ownership of the four bighas of land in Gumi has already come under the battalion. SSP Ram Prasad Gharti heads the battalion.
The battalion plans to station 75 personnel in Chaurjahari, Rukum West, and another 50 in Rakam Karnali to ensure quick and efficient mobilization of forces throughout the province. The battalion’s personnel have already reached Chaurjahari, and preparations are underway to send additional personnel to Dailekh.
Officiating Prime Minister Khadka said police units that hadn’t come within Karnali Province after the country adopted a federal setup, are finally making their way to the province. “This shift reflects our commitment to the federal structure,” he added.
Surkhet, once the administrative headquarters of the mid-western development region, faced challenges in acquiring land to set up government offices. Consequently, most offices were established in Nepalgunj. However, with this strategic move, the Karnali Province is taking a significant step toward centralizing its units.
Several units of the Karnali Provincial Police Office, including the Special Security Battalion, Police Training Center, Riot Control Battalion, and Canine Branch, continued to operate in Nepalgunj of Lumbini Province. The provincial police office now plans to gradually transition these units to Karnali Province.