High alert in Bajura and Bajhang to prevent booth capture and electoral violence

Dhangadhi: Security has been tightened in Bajura and Bajhang districts of the Far West to prevent incidents of booth capture, fake voting, clashes and electoral rigging that have recurred in previous elections. Although both districts have one constituency each, voters have long complained that they have not been able to cast their ballots in a peaceful environment.

Bajura has witnessed various election-related incidents since 2048 BS. During the 2079 House of Representatives elections, two youths were killed in clashes and violent incidents. On polling day, the district remained tense throughout due to stone pelting, vandalism at polling stations, chasing of voters and firing in the air by security personnel. Major political parties had claimed that 24 polling stations were captured.

Sanjeev Ayadi, a Congress supporter from Triveni Municipality-6, was killed by police bullets, while Chetan Ayadi, a UML supporter and ANNFSU central member from Triveni Municipality-7, was beaten to death. It took 14 days for vote counting to begin following the incident. Similarly, during the 2079 local level elections, re-voting was conducted at most centers in Budhiganga Municipality after allegations of rigging.

The casting of fake votes has also been a recurring problem in both districts. In the 2074 local level elections, Bajura recorded a high voter turnout, with data showing that more than 99 percent of votes were cast in some centers in Budhiganga Municipality. In the 2079 elections, voting was postponed at two polling stations in Surma Rural Municipality after attempts were made to capture booths and cast fake votes.

In Bajhang, during the 2079 local level elections, controversy over fake voting at the Sunipipalchaur Secondary School Center in Jayaprithi Municipality-6 led to vandalism of ballot boxes and a re-voting. An incident of fake votes being cast in Kedarsyun Rural Municipality-2 was also reported. According to locals, in some areas, employees and security personnel have been accused of collusion.

Security agencies have stated that they are preparing to adopt a high-alert approach for the upcoming elections. Sudurpaschim Province Police Chief DIG Om Bahadur Rana said that both districts have been placed on the high-security list. Preparations include increasing the number of security personnel, installing CCTV surveillance, deploying drone cameras and advance identification of disabled voters.

Officials from the Armed Police Force have also indicated plans to double patrols in Bajura and Bajhang and increase the use of technology in sensitive centers.

Of the 77 polling stations in Bajura, 62 have been categorized as highly sensitive, 12 as sensitive and three as general. In Bajhang, out of 137 polling stations, 85 are highly sensitive, 49 are sensitive and only three fall under the general category.

Eight candidates are contesting from Bajura in the upcoming House of Representatives elections. The main competition is seen between Janakraj Giri of the Nepali Congress, Lal Bahadur Thapa of the UML, Prakash Bahadur Shah of the NCP and Hemraj Thapa of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. In Bajhang, the expected contest is between UML’s Ain Mahar, Congress’s Prakash Rasaili Snehi, NCP’s Min Bahadur Kunwar and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Shailesh Kumar Singh.