IGP Karki removed, Dr Manoj KC appointed; Oli says 'he'll do as told'

Kathmandu. The government has removed Nepal Police Inspector General (IGP) Danbahadur Karki and appointed Additional Inspector General Dr Manoj KC as the new IGP. The Council of Ministers meeting held on Wednesday decided to assign Karki the responsibility of security advisor to the prime minister.

Soon after his appointment, KC went to the Ministry of Home Affairs at Singha Durbar. According to Home Ministry spokesperson Anand Kafle, a program to confer rank insignia on the 34th IGP, KC, was scheduled for the same Wednesday.

The government says Karki was moved under the Prime Minister's Office rather than being removed from his post outright, since dismissing him directly could create legal complications. According to Thahakhabar, Karki is nonetheless preparing to go to the Supreme Court with a writ seeking reinstatement.

Responding to reporters' questions at the party office in Chyasal on Wednesday, CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli said, "They must have made him on the understanding that he'll do as instructed." Former prime minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai said it would be wrong if the change of IGP had been made against due method and procedure. Following the decision, the main opposition Nepali Congress called an emergency meeting of its top leaders to form an official position.