KATHMANDU: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Bahadur Karki has said that the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Force (KMC) has been playing an important role in maintaining peace and security, maintaining road discipline, controlling encroachments and protecting public property.

Speaking at a programme organized on the occasion of 34th anniversary of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Force (KMC) here today, IGP Karki said that the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police is special as it is the main centre of political, economic, cultural, administrative and tourism activities.

He said, “Kathmandu is the main center of political, economic, cultural, administrative and tourism activities along with the federal capital. The Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Force has been playing an important role in maintaining peace and security, road discipline, encroachment control and protection of public property in such an important city. This role of the Metropolitan Police is commendable. ’

Kathmandu boasts major structures of the federal government, diplomatic missions, national and international institutions, major business centers, historical, religious, archaeological and cultural heritages.

According to him, the police force has been carrying out works for more than three decades implementing the policy, decision and directives of the metropolis, protecting public property, road discipline, market and parking management, footpath management, sanitation and waste management, heritage conservation, encroachment control, environment conservation and controlling social anomalies.

He said, “Kathmandu has major structures of the federal government, diplomatic missions, national and international institutions, major business centers as well as historical, religious, archaeological and cultural heritages.” In such an important city, the Metropolitan Police Force has been playing an important role for more than three decades in the protection of public property, road and footpath management, market and parking management, cleanliness, heritage conservation, encroachment control and social distortion control. ’

The role of the metropolis police is significant in search, rescue and relief operations during disasters as well as in coordination with the Nepal Police, he added.

Stating that the Metropolitan Police Force, which started with a small number of people, has now been established as a proud organization, he said although the activities like removing encroachment on roads and footpaths were not easy and popular, such activities were necessary to change the look of the city and make it systematic.

Stating that incidents of assault and manhandling on the metropolis police take place in course of discharging their duty, he said that the continuous work in the responsibility without disseminating such incidents was commendable.

He said, “The Metropolitan Police Force, which started with a small number, has been established as a proud organization today. The work of removing encroachment on roads and footpaths is not easy and popular, but such works are necessary for the construction of a well-organized and beautiful city. The work of the Metropolitan Police is commendable for continuously deploying the responsibility even though they have to face attacks and beatings in the line of duty. ’

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Karki praised the role of KMC for setting an example through its activism and performance.