Galkot. Baglung District got the Armed Police Force (APF) two years back after the government decided to station APF in all districts of the country. The presence of APF has bolstered peace and security and border security and has helped in disaster management and riot control in the district; but, in the lack of living quarters, the APF personnel have been living in tents.

The APF has not received land for construction of base for its company and is operating from a congested old building of Land Conservation Office currently. The problem of space for the APF Company is such that the personnel have been living in makeshift tents for the past two years.

“Since land was not made available to us, the Company could not be managed properly. Out of the proposed 200 APF personnel, there are only 50 in Baglung,” APF Company Chief, DSP Ramesh Kumar Gurung, informed. “Among 50, 30 are living under tent.” He added.”It is really pathetic that the security personnel serving the people have to go through such a problem as the lack of living space. Although many efforts have been made, we have not been able to acquire the land yet.”

The local people had dissented to the idea of setting up APF Company near the residential area leading toe the problem.

Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Prithvi Gurung has made an onsite inspection of Rametar area of Baglung recently. With adequate land area, the site is considered suitable to set up APF Company. “It’s quite worrying the APF committed to citizen’s peace and security is not allowed land for setting up office for two years,” National News Agency (RSS) quoted CM Gurung as saying.  CM Gurung made a commitment that “it would be managed soon.”

Similarly, Baglung Municipality Mayor Janakraj Poudel informed that necessary efforts and coordination were underway to avail land to the APF.