Election Security in Focus: Government Steps Up Operations to Recover Fugitives and Weapons

As Nepal prepares for the March 5 House of Representatives elections, the government has intensified efforts to track down prisoners who escaped during the Gen-Z unrest and recover weapons looted amid the chaos, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal announced Saturday.

Speaking at the National Grand Economic Debate 2.0 organized by FNCCI, Aryal said repeated appeals to fugitives to surrender have largely failed, leaving authorities with no choice but to act decisively. Out of 14,549 escapees, 9,521 have returned, while 5,105 remain at large. Of the 710 stolen weapons, most have been recovered, though some were destroyed, and retrieving the rest is a major challenge.

Aryal warned that weak governance could spark renewed instability, stating, “Recent events show that poor enforcement could trigger another phase of conflict, threatening political and security stability.”

Deputy Inspector General Abi Narayan Kafle said special police task forces are now deployed nationwide, working with local administrations, the Nepali Army, and the Armed Police Force. The government has made arms recovery and public safety key priorities ahead of the elections, with the Nepali Army forming an Election Task Force and the Home Ministry establishing a security coordination committee.