Nepal to mobilize 61,000 army personnel ahead of Nov. election

Nepal government is planning to deploy around 61,000 Nepal Army (NA) personnel for holding November 19 election in a free and fair way, officials have said.

A meeting of National Security Council (NSC), a constitutional body mandated to recommend the government to mobilize NA, has decided to deploy NA, saying that the strength of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force are not sufficient to provide effective security.

On the basis of NSC recommendation, cabinet will take a final call about the mobilization of NA.

This will be the first mobilization of NA after the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) 2006 signed by the then government and rebel force CPN-Maoist.

The Nepal government is preparing an integrated security policy for the Constituent Assembly election.

The opposition party CPN-Maoist is protesting the mobilization of NA, saying that it will invite crisis in the country.

The NSC has recommended mobilizing the army two days after talks with CPN- Maoist failed to bring positive developments.

The possible security threats are from former Maoist combatants, CPN-Maoist, armed outfits in the Terai and some militant organizations in the hilly region.

NA has already started to prepare election security plan.