Nepali gov't to release more money to capital city police

The Nepali government has recently decided to release 50 million Nepali rupees (684,931 US dollars) to support logistics for the proposed Metropolitan Police in the capital Kathmandu Valley, a leading newspaper, The Kathmandu Post reported on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Kiran Gautam was quoted by the daily as saying that the budget is being released to help police carry out necessary work, including construction of new buildings, repairing existing police office structures and meeting fuel expense for materializing the concept of metro police in Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts.

According to the report, Nepal police had proposed to start metro police in a bid to control the growing instances of criminal activity in the capital city. The cabinet meeting agreed in principle in this regard a few days ago.

Home Ministry officials said it will take at least five years to bring the proposed plan into full-fledged operation.

As per the plan, there will be over 14,000 police personnel under the command of Additional Inspector General level police commissioner, while several police outposts will be added in the course of materializing the concept of a new police body.

It will have authority to exercise semi-judicial powers as those enjoyed by Chief District Officer to help effectively investigate criminal incidents and prosecute the guilty.

A senior police official said on condition of anonymity that over 70 Vehicle Control Rooms (VCR) will be kept on standby at different locations of the city once the metro police comes into full-fledged operation.

Besides police personnel, each VCR will be equipped with sound communication facilities including walkie-talkie and wireless telephone.

"The VCR will return to its place to remain on standby after a separate police team from the nearest police unit reaches the incident site," he said.

According to the report, a preliminary plan has been made to mobilize altogether 2,314 police personnel for it this fiscal year starting in mid-July. New vacancies and other necessary resources for the metro police will be gradually fulfilled in the next phases of the plan.

Currently, some 3,600 police personnel including traffic police are serving in Kathmandu Valley. On an average, a police personnel has to look after 694 people in the valley, twice more than the standard international standard.

The capital Kathmandu Valley includes Kathmandu and Kirtipur cities in Katmandu district, Bhaktapur and Madhyapur cities in

Bhaktapur district and Lalitpur city in Laltipur district.

Source: Xinhua