Dhangadhi: Minister for Home Affairs Om Prakash Aryal has vowed that the election will not be disrupted due to the looted weapons and escaped prisoners. Addressing the Sudurpaschim Province-level security seminar held in Dhangadhi today, Home Minister Aryal stated that it is not necessary to exaggerate much regarding the weapons looted and the escaped prisoners during the Gen Z movement on September 8 and 9.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Aryal reported that 727 weapons looted during the Gen Z movement have been returned and 4,552 prisoners remain to be captured. He added that an ‘operation’ has been launched to arrest the remaining absconding prisoners and additional looted weapons are also in the process of being returned. Emphasizing the importance of elections in a democratic system, he noted that the government has prioritized talks and dialogue and is preparing for the election by listening to everyone, incorporating everyone’s sentiments.
He clarified that establishing good governance with the rule of law and an interference-free administration, while conducting fair and fraud-free elections within the stipulated time, is the main objective of the government. Home Minister Aryal maintained that the Home Administration has been working on maintaining peace and security, controlling crime, good governance, and effective service delivery in response to the demands raised by youths for good governance and justice following the events of September 8 and 9.
Aryal stressed that the morale of the citizens and the nation will be high only if the morale of the security personnel is high, noting the strengthening relationship between citizens and security personnel. He emphasized the provincial government’s role in creating an electoral environment within the designated time frame.
Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province, Kamal Bahadur Shah, affirmed that the provincial government is committed to creating an environment conducive for elections. He stated that since the country can be led in the right direction through elections, it is necessary for everyone to unite and foster an election-friendly environment. Province Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Hira Sarki added that the Government of Nepal should coordinate with parties to establish a proper security environment.
The security seminar was chaired by Home Ministry Secretary Rameshwar Dangal and attended by senior officials, including Inspectors General of Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, the Chief of the National Investigation Department, the commander of the Army’s Far-Western Regional Headquarters, officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and chief security officials from all nine districts of the province. The workshop will address provincial-level security challenges.