Special security plan prepared based on sensitivity of polling stations

A special security plan has been prepared for mobilizing all the four security agencies of the State in an effective and coordinated manner in view of the elections to the Member of the House of Representatives and Province Assembly taking place on November 20.

A decision to this effect has been made after further discussions on the plan in the High-level Election Security Committee of the Election Commission. The plan is prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The committee has held three meeting so far since the announcement of the election date.

The election security special plan includes 20 strategies and the activities, time-line, responsible agencies, the coordination and monitoring agencies' responsibilities have been clearly stipulated. The sensitiveness of polling stations has been classified on the basis of the security analysis.

Election Commissioner Ishowori Prasad Poudyal has said the special plan has emphasized on clear work responsibilities, coordination and effectiveness. He added that provisions have been made for security intelligence gathering and analysis, and mobilization of mobile and surveillance teams by forming the units under the Central Security Committee as well as the District Security Committee, the Joint Command Post and the temporary police.

The special plan categorizes the polling stations into general, sensitive and highly sensitive categories. Poudyal made it clear that groups and individuals boycotting the election and issuing threats and creating terror would be taken under control. He also reminded that election campaigning has been prohibited from November 17 till the voting day during the silence period while no person except security persons cannot move around carrying weapons. Similarly, arrangements have been made prohibiting the voters to carry mobile and other prohibited articles while going for voting.

"Arrangements have been made by which additional security backup would reach within 30 minutes in case the security sensitivity at any polling station is disturbed or there is rioting and if such security backup is needed. Air patrolling would also be carried out from time to time," said Poudyal, who is also the coordinator of the High-level Election Security Committee.

According to him, the Election Commission is actively working to conduct the election in a free, fair, impartial, independent, fear-free and secured manner. "The security arrangements have been made fool-proof. I urge all the voters to exercise their voting rights confidently," he asserted.

On Tuesday, the High-level Election Security Committee made a review of efforts undertaken to control the use of vehicles bearing the Indian number plates in some districts of the Madhesh Province during the election publicity campaign.

A mechanism has been in place to meticulously analyze the management of logistics and human resources management, security arrangements and observations in course of the election preparations and address the issues requiring a prompt response.

The Joint Election Operation Centre based in the Commission is mandated to establish a direct and regular connections with the voting places, to take updates whether employees reach the assigned stations, to take stock about the situation of voter education underway at the ward level, to facilitate in the implementation of the election Code of Conduct, to increase coordination with the district-based election command cell, and coordinate and facilitate in the safe transport and reliable counting of votes following the voting.

The Centre coordinated by the EC Secretary comprises employees of the joint-secretary level from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the National Investigation Department and other required employees form the EC.