52 polling stations in Dolakha marked as highly sensitive

KATHMANDU: Dolakha District has classified 52 out of its 95 polling stations as “highly sensitive” ahead of the upcoming elections, citing past incidents of violence, booth occupation, and geographical challenges, according to Chief District Officer Hariprasad Ghimire.

An additional 28 polling stations have been marked as sensitive, while 15 are considered normal. “We assessed past violent incidents, booth takeovers, and overall security risks to categorize polling stations,” Ghimire said, adding that further studies are ongoing, especially for remote areas.

Preparations aim to prevent repetition of past electoral violence.

The district has 170,030 registered voters. “Some voters have reported being unable to cast ballots for years. We are ensuring a secure environment so they can vote confidently,” he said.

Due to a shortage of election police in Dolakha, additional personnel have been brought from neighboring Sindhupalchowk and Kavre districts.

Of the 1,350 required election police, around 100 are still short. Over 1,000 Nepali Army personnel, along with armed and regular police, are expected to be deployed accordingly.

The Election Commission has designated past violent polling areas as “red zones” to enhance security measures.

In the 2079 election, the district had 94 polling stations.