As the country gears up to hold the fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) election on November 19, this particular incident that occurred on a broad-day light in downtown Parawanipur has raised question not only about the security of the poll candidates, but also about the prospect of holding a free and fair election. [break]
Security experts say the unfortunate incident, which took place a day after First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) candidates filed their nomination at the Election Commission (EC), has sent a negative message to ordinary people.
“We are going to the polls even as some dissenting parties have publicly announced to thwart the election. If security agencies do not immediately become proactive, such incidents could recur,” warned former Home Secretary Umesh Prasad Mainali, who oversaw security arrangement during the previous CA poll held in April, 2008.
As such, the demand of security from poll candidates has sharply gone up after the Alam incident. But as over 6,000 candidates have fielded their candidacy under the FPTP electoral system alone, the police are having hard times providing security to candidates.
Nepal Police Spokesperson Nawa Raj Silwal said the number of poll candidates demanding personnel security officers (PSOs) has increased especially in Tarai and eastern hill districts.
We have provided at least one PSO to a candidate keeping in view of the security threats he or she faces,” said DIG Silwal. “The number could be increased if need be.”
Apprehensive of the anti-poll activities in the aftermath of fatal attack, the government has also decided to increase security vigilance.
We have asked poll candidates to inform the local police and administration before they hold any rallies or election campaign at the local level so that we could ensure adequate security”" Silwal further said.
Experts maintain that security agencies need to keep a close watch on candidates from Parsa to Saptari in the south, which is considered the most security sensitive area, and provide them with PSOs while reviewing their security threats. Restive eastern hill districts are equally vulnerable.
Officials at the Home Ministry said they are reviewing overall security plan in the wake of increased threats to poll candidates.
As such, the ministry recently organized regional security seminars in three development regions - far western, mid-western and western region - to assess security threats and challenges and to ensure effective coordination among all security agencies including the army for the polls.
Dissenting former Maoist combatants who want to disrupt the election and the open and porous border with India pose huge challenges.
“We have increased security vigilance at major border points. This will discourage the elements involved in cross-border crimes,” DIG Silwal said.
Even as the CPN-Maoist, which has threatened to disrupt the November polls, has decided through its central committee meeting to adopt peaceful measures, there are apprehensions that they might still resort to violent means.
As successful poll largely depend on the ability of the government to instill a sense of security among people by containing possible disruptive activities of anti-poll elements, it is high time both the government and security agencies took proactive measures to bolster security situation and engage such elements in such a manner that they are not provoked to use violence and the election environment is not vitiated.
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