Prez instructs security agencies to beef up security for March 5 polls

KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel has directed chiefs of security agencies to make security arrangements strong, robust, and effective to ensure that the upcoming House of Representatives elections are conducted in a free, fair, and fear-free environment.

In a meeting with the Home Minister and chiefs ofthe  Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department (NID) at the Office of the President on Friday, he expressed confidence that the government would pay special attention to the management of necessary resources, logistics, and manpower for the election.

“Elections are the most appropriate means in a democracy to understand the people’s mandate and provide an outlet to the country’s current situation. Therefore, the government and security agencies will leave no stone unturned to conduct this election in a fear-free environment,” President Paudel said in the meeting, according to his press adviser Kiran Pokharel.

Minister for Home Affairs Om Prakash Aryal, Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel, Inspector General of Nepal Police Dan Bahadur Karki, Armed Police Force Inspector General Raju Aryal, and NID Chief Tekendra Karki were present in the meeting.