Kathmandu, Nepal: Ending the months long drama staged on the name of appointing head of the Nepal Police, a key security agency of Nepal, the government has on Monday named Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Prakash Aryal as Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP).
A cabinet meeting made the decision to promote Aryal to the post of IGP ‘on the basis on the principle of merit.’ Appointment of Aryal as the IGP is taken as the final episode of the drama staged by the government allies while appointing the chief of the Nepal Police.
Aryal has taken the helm of the Nepal Police at a critical time when not only the Nepal Police but also the country has been facing the multiple challenges even in the front of mentioning law and order situation in the country.
As the government has already declared the local level polls on May 14 despite the threat to foil by the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), the biggest test of his career will be maintaining law and order during upcoming elections.
Aryal was found as the capable contender to the post after other contenders namely Nawaraj Silwal and Jaya Bahadur Chand indulge on the undue game even dragging to the key security agency into the Supreme Court (SC), the apex court of the country, over the issue of appointment.
Following the SC decision that quashed the controversies surrounded over the IGP appointment issue, the government had formed a four-member review team under the leadership of Home Secretary Lok Darsan Regmi to review the four DIGs- Aryal, Chanda, Silwal and Bam Bahadur Bhandari’s work efficiency.
The review team that was formed comprising Tanka Mani Sharma, secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office; Kamal Sali Ghimire, secretary at the Ministry of Law and Acting Inspector General Dinesh Chandra Pokhrel as members had recommended Aryal to appoint as IGP on the basis of the merit and work performance.
As per the team, Aryal had a score of 154, Silwal 152.4, Bhandari 150.2 and Chand had a score of 147 while examining four years’ work efficiency. As the team had forwarded its report to the Cabinet, the government had no options than appointing Aryal as the IGP.
Aryal, who was born on June 28, 1963 AD in Dang district, had started his career as an inspector on April 11, 1988. He also headed various crucial positions including the National Central Bureau (NCB) Kathmandu and INTERPOL. Aryal holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in business administration from Tribhuvan University.
Aryal assumes office at midnight
Following the cabinet decision, Inspector General of Nepal Police Prakash Aryal assumed his office at the Nepal Police headquarters on Monday midnight.
Earlier of assuming the office, Home Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi had conferred the insignia on him at the Ministry of Home Affairs amid a function.
During the function, senior government officials, chiefs of Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department were present at the Home Ministry.
