After Gen Z crackdown failure, Nepal Police to get new riot control gear

Nepal's government is prioritizing the procurement of non-lethal crowd control equipment after facing widespread criticism for deaths resulting from security firings during recent communal tensions in the Tarai-Madhesh region. This move signals a significant shift in the country's approach to managing public unrest.

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Operating under the old budget limited our ability to make new purchases. Now, as the procurement process starts, we aim for all types of non-lethal weapons necessary for effective crowd management.

Alongside acquiring new gear, the Ministry of Home Affairs is preparing to amend relevant security legislation and integrate advanced technologies. Drones capable of firing tear gas and broadcasting public announcements are part of this strategy. Home Minister Sudan Gurung stated that a lack of funds had previously delayed these purchases, but with the new budget cycle, formal procurement procedures are now underway.

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Drones will enhance crowd management through real-time monitoring from a central command and by strengthening physical barricades. Our primary focus is on protecting vital infrastructure without causing human casualties.

Minister Gurung explained that the new strategy emphasizes using drones for surveillance, public announcements, and tear gas deployment, enhancing real-time monitoring and strengthening physical barricades. The primary objective is to protect vital infrastructure without causing human casualties. This push for upgraded infrastructure is a direct response to past security failures, including the indiscriminate firing during Gen Z demonstrations last year where protesters breached police barricades.

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We want to transform that mindset and establish an administrative system that prioritises non-lethal alternatives.

To prevent similar escalations, the ministry is amending the Essential Goods Protection Act 1955 and the Local Administration Act 1971. These amendments aim to establish clear legal parameters for the use of force. Gurung noted that many security personnel still default to live ammunition, and the goal is to transform this mindset towards prioritizing non-lethal alternatives. A judicial commission had previously highlighted a chronic shortage of basic non-lethal protective equipment and recommended clearer legal definitions for when security forces may open fire.

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The Karki Commission recommended amending the Local Administration Act 1971 to clearly define parameters governing when security forces may open fire during curfews.