The government has decided to promote DIG Sarbendra Khanal as the 26th Inspector General of Nepal Police and to appoint AIG Shailendra Khanal to the top post of the Armed Police Force.

According to The Kathmandu Post, a second Cabinet meeting held at Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday took the decision unanimously, effective from Thursday, said Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista. Sarbendra will lead the 72,000-strong police force for 21 months. The decision was taken after meetings between Prime Minister Oli, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chief of the coalition partner CPN (Maoist Centre), and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa.

Due to the 30-year service limit, 15 additional inspector generals, nine deputy inspector generals, one senior superintendent and Inspector General of Nepal Police Prakash Aryal retire on Wednesday along with APF Inspector General Singha Bahadur Shrestha.

Sarbendra, Ramesh Kharel and Pushkar Karki were promoted to DIGs on July 14 last year. Khanal was ahead in performance evaluation conducted by the previous government, followed by Kharel and Karki. As they were promoted less than a year ago, the annual performance evaluations of the three DIGs were not ready.

At the APF, Shailendra and Pushpa Ram KC were the top contenders. Home Minister Thapa had proposed Sarbendra for promotion but PM Oli was against his appointment, as UML leaders backed Pushkar Karki for the top NP post. After Dahal reminded PM Oli of the problem seen while appointing the IG last time, PM Oli is said to have agreed to home minister’s choice.