Kathmandu, May 1
The government has appointed Dhiraj Pratap Singh as the chief of the Nepal Police.
A cabinet meeting held on Sunday made the decision, informs a minister.
The appointment of Singh is apparently a violation of the seniority order in the national police organisation as he was in the third rank.
It has been learned that Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand wanted to appoint the top-ranking Bishwa Raj Pokharel as the inspector general, but Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba insisted on Singh’s name.
It is highly like that Pokharel will challenge the decision in the court.
Leaders of the ruling alliance–CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal–had warned Deuba against any controversy the appointment of Dhiraj Pratap Singh would fuel, but Deuba did not heed.
Besides Pokharel and Singh, Sahakul Bahadur Thapa and Rabindra Dhanuk were also lobbying for the top position.
Incumbent Shailesh Thapa Chhetri is retiring this week.
