Addressing a press conference at the Home Ministry on Saturday to inform about the security preparation of the government, Minister Ghimire said, “The government would act strongly against the anti-election forces. No one can deprive people of their fundamental rights to vote,” he said. [break]
Referring to a 10-day general strike called by the CPN-Maoist led alliance of 33 parties with an aim to disrupt the November 19 election, Ghimire said the government has made necessary arrangements to effectively foil it.
“If someone is found involved in any anti-poll activity, the government will arrest that person then and there,” he said.
The Home Ministry has prepared a ´Security Strategic Roadmap, 2070´ as a ´counter strategy´ and has already directed the security agencies and the local authorities to implement the roadmap strictly, Ghimire added.
“The upcoming nine days are very crucial for the country,” he said, “If we squander the opportunity, the country will have to face a huge loss in terms of development, prosperity and peace.”
Replying to quires about possible chances of booth capture and vote rigging during the election, the Home Minister said that chances of such activities are very slim.
He also reiterated that the Nepal Army will be deployed under the civilian authority.
He went on to assert that the government would not spare even the parties that are participating in the election if they resorted to wrongful means.
Referring to the security situation of the capital, he said, “Though we have sent half of the Kathmandu valley police out of station, we have made necessary arrangements so that the no untoward activities would take place in their absence.”
Poll security ´very strong´
Home Minister Ghimire said that security arrangement for the November 19 polls is very strong as compared to the last election.
Allaying concerns that the parties opposed to the election could disrupt the voting process, Ghimire ruled out that possibility, stating that the government has mobilized adequate security personnel for the polls.
Ghimire said though the Nepal Army (NA) was confined to its barracks in the previous election due to Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), altogether 62,000 army personnel have been deployed across the country for the poll security.
Likewise, 110,000 Nepal Police personnel along with temporary police have been deployed as against 90,000 in the last election, he informed.
Likewise, 32,000 Armed Police Force (APF) personnel have been mobilized compared to 21,000 personnel in the last election.“We have also increased the personnel in National Investigation Department to 2,000 from 800 in the previous election,” he said.
If we compare the incidents of murder and abduction with the last election, the number of such incidents has decreased by 30 percent this time, according to the Home Ministry.
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