Ex-combatants deployed for Prachanda’s security after govt cuts security personnel

KATHMANDU: With the government’s decision of reducing the number of security personnel meant for the VIPs, former Maoist combatants have been deployed for security of Chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Prachanda-Nepal faction Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda.

A special team of ex-combatants led by Prakash Chandra Pandey has been deployed for the security of former Maoist Supremo who is also a former Prime Minister.

Pandey is a former battalion commander who had opted for a voluntary retirement during the army integration.

According to the source, a dress code of the ex-combatants is also being prepared.

Earlier, 26 security personnel were deployed under the command of a DSP from Nepal Police and 47 from the Armed Police Force under the command of an Inspector.

As per the Security Procedure 2077 passed by the Council of Ministers, only 16 APF personnel and two policemen would be deployed for the security of the former Prime Minister.

Likewise, the government has also made some changes in the responsibilities of the incumbents and former office-bearers and civil servants by slashing the number of personnel deployed for their security.

The Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force deployed as bodyguards and in the residences of the former VIPS have been recalled.

The government is preparing to recall the security personnel from more than the prescribed posts.

According to the Police and the Armed Police Headquarters, the Ministry of Home Affairs has recently issued instructions for the implementation of the working procedure along with the recently passed criteria.

Following the directive of the Home Ministry, the armed police deployed under the protection of the ministers, ministers of state, and assistant ministers of all the seven state governments have been recalled.

The government has taken measures to bring back the security personnel after finding that the Ministry of Home Affairs had set new standards for the security of the former special guards and found that more security personnel were kept under the pretext of security.