Cabinet Decision: Deepak Thapa appointed as new IGP

KATHMANDU: Deepak Thapa has been appointed as the 31st Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP).

The decision was made at the Cabinet meeting on Monday evening, where Additional Inspector General (AIG) Thapa, who was previously the head of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), was selected for the prestigious position.

The appointment follows the retirement of Basanta Kunwar, who stepped down after completing a 30-year career in the police force. Kunwar had served as the 30th IGP of Nepal Police since Chait 10, 2079.

He officially retired on Monday, with the Ministry of Home Affairs bidding him farewell the same evening. Kunwar entered the police service on Chait 5, 2051, and served for 30 years before retiring.

Along with Kunwar, several of his batchmates, including AIG Tek Prasad Rai, Buddhiraj Gurung, Durga Singh, Kuwar Kadayat, and Janak Bhattarai, are also set to retire. Bhattarai had only been promoted to AIG on Falgun 13, 2079.

Additionally, DIGs Dhruv Raut, Bhola Rawal, and Ganesh Chand have also taken retirement.

Thapa, the newly appointed IGP, began his career in Nepal Police as an Inspector on Bhadra 19, 2052. He was promoted to DSP on Bhadra 8, 2063, and became an SP on Shrawan 8, 2072.

He further advanced to SSP on Fagun 6, 2075, and was promoted to DIG on Asar 17, 2079. Thapa was appointed as AIG on Chait 6, 2079.

In the race for the new IGP, three AIGs were competing: Thapa, Sudip Giri, the head of the National Police Training Institute, and Tekbahadur Tamang, the chief of the Kathmandu Valley Police Office in Ranipokhari.

Thapa emerged as the front-runner due to his seniority, efficiency, and performance, placing ahead of Giri and Tamang.

Thapa’s tenure as the IGP will last until 18th Bhadra, 2082, a period of nearly six months.