November 10: Security agencies have stepped up surveillance in view of the parliamentary elections due in 10 days. The voting for the elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly is scheduled for November 20. The elections will be held in a single phase.    
Around 300,000 security personnel of three security agencies have been deployed for the twin elections. Among them 71,693 personnel are from Nepal Police and 115,000 are temporary policepersons. Similarly, a total of 75,000 personnel of the Nepalese Army (NA) and 35,000 of Armed Police Force (APF) are being deployed to ensure the elections are held in a free, impartial and peaceful manner.    
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, this time a huge number of security personnel have been mobilized for election security on the need basis. Spokesperson at the Ministry Phadindramani Pokharel shared that the election security was tightened evaluating the challenges in the polling stations.    
An integrated security plan has been implemented according to which security agencies will provide security in three different layers. In the first ring, Nepal Police will provide security while Armed Police Force and Nepalese Army will provide security in the second and third layers respectively.    
Nepal Police Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Tek Prasad Rai shared that election security plan is good and reliable. "Voters can cast their vote without any fear," he said.  According to him, some 28 small groups have announced to boycott the election. The security agencies are closely monitoring them, shared spokesperson Rai.    
Learning from the past experience, police have also devised security plans for contingencies, added Rai.

The Armed Police Force (APF) that is deployed in the second layer for election security, has already mobilized required number of personnel while some are in stand-by position to be deployed on need basis.    
APF will mainly provide security to the election offices, election officers and chief election officers among others. Spokesperson of the APF and Senior Superintendent of Police Purushottam Thapa shared that election security bases were set up in various locations and security personnel were mobilized in plain clothes.    
Furthermore, mobile patrolling is also being carried out by the APF security personnel while surveillance has been stepped up in border areas as well.    
The Nepalese Army has already started monitoring in all districts as per the mandate given to it by the integrated security plan, said NA Spokesperson Brigadier General Narayan Silwal.    
Prisons, airports and other important infrastructures, guarded by APF and Nepal Police during the previous elections, are being guarded by the Nepalese Army this time.    
Moreover, NA has been entrusted with the responsibility to guard the printing of ballot papers and its transportation. Spokesperson Silwal shared that the army has already made preparations for aerial surveillance, disposal of bombs or neutralizing suspicious objects and explosives during the election.    
Also, the army has set up separate bases/units in those places uncovered by the already set bases/units, he said. -- RSS