The Nepali Army has been deployed from Wednesday to ensure security for the upcoming House of Representatives election on Falgun 21. Under the Integrated Election Security Plan–2082, a total of 79,727 army personnel have been mobilized across the country.
According to Army spokesperson and Assistant Rathi Rajaram Basnet, the army will be positioned in the third security perimeter to safeguard sensitive areas, polling stations, and critical infrastructures. Joint patrols with the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force will also be conducted as necessary.
The army will also conduct aerial patrols during the election period. Standby helicopters have been stationed in Surkhet, Pokhara, Kathmandu, Biratnagar, and Itahari. These helicopters will be used for transporting ballot boxes and papers to remote and highly sensitive areas, as well as for rapid deployment in emergencies.
Considering the risk of bomb explosions by groups attempting to disrupt the election, bomb disposal teams have also been placed on alert in highly sensitive locations.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force will secure polling stations’ inner and secondary perimeters, while the Nepali Army will be responsible for protecting key installations such as airports, prisons, and Singha Durbar.
Following the Cabinet’s recommendation, President Ram Chandra Paudel approved the deployment of the army for election security on Mangsir 11. All four security agencies—the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department—are being jointly mobilized to ensure a clean, free, fair, and fear-free election environment.
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