As the March 5 House of Representatives elections approach, former Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP) Sarbendra Khanal has emerged as a formidable contender for Bara Constituency No. 4. Running under the Bamboo Flute symbol for his Samunnata Nepal Party, Khanal’s campaign is anchored in a legacy of significant national security reforms.
Shift in Global Perception of Nepal’s Security
The most significant achievement of Khanal’s tenure was the shift in international perception regarding Nepal’s security landscape. According to the U.S. Department of State’s Country Reports on Terrorism 2019, Nepal was effectively removed from the list of active hubs for the Indian Mujahideen (IM).
Previously, the 2018 report had labeled Nepal as the “biggest hub for IM operatives,” citing the open border with India as a primary vulnerability. However, the 2019 report, released in 2020, noted a drastic improvement.
This turnaround was widely credited to the organizational reforms and counterterrorism mechanisms established under Khanal’s leadership, including the creation of a dedicated Counter-Terrorism Mechanism Secretariat at Police Headquarters.
Organizational Reform and Federal Restructuring
After taking command on April 12, 2018, Khanal launched a “clean-up” drive within the force and expanded its presence across the newly restructured federal system.
Under his leadership, Nepal Police underwent a significant organizational transformation focused on decentralization and modernization. To align with the country’s federal restructuring, Khanal oversaw the establishment of police structures across all 753 local levels, ensuring that law enforcement was accessible even in remote areas. This expansion was supported by the “One Police Office, One Vehicle” policy, which led to the distribution of 340 motorcycles and 131 four-wheeled vehicles to local stations.
Infrastructure development was also prioritized. During his tenure, 40 new buildings were completed, and construction of 99 additional buildings was initiated. A unique “One Police, One Bed” initiative was introduced to improve the living conditions of police personnel.
Internal Purification and Discipline Drive
A cornerstone of his tenure was the Internal Purification Campaign, an aggressive drive aimed at instilling discipline and rooting out corruption within the force. Khanal maintained a zero-tolerance policy that resulted in departmental action against 3,459 police officers for unethical conduct, while also recognizing 8,911 officers for their integrity and bravery to boost morale.
To modernize the force, specialized units such as the Human Trafficking Research Bureau and the Central Cyber Bureau were established. Alongside a new state-of-the-art data center, these initiatives shifted the department from traditional policing toward a more technology-driven and investigative approach.
Operational success was further strengthened by the Community-Police Partnership Program, described as a “paradigm shift” designed to bridge the gap between the public and the police. Launched in late 2018, the program led to the formation of more than 24,000 partnership committees and reached nearly 10 million citizens through awareness campaigns. This grassroots network played a key role in crime prevention and intelligence gathering.
The department’s administrative efficiency was also recognized when the Ministry of Home Affairs named Nepal Police the top-performing agency for clearing arrears, achieving an 88.50% settlement rate. For this achievement, Khanal received a prestigious award from the Home Minister.
Crackdown on Organized Crime and Corruption
Khanal’s tenure saw a sharp crackdown on organized crime, high-profile corruption, and financial fraud.
During this period, Nepal Police registered more than 71,000 criminal cases and arrested over 41,000 individuals. His leadership was marked by an aggressive pursuit of fugitives, resulting in the capture of 4,623 individuals and the recovery of approximately Rs 730 million in court-ordered fines.
The force achieved a 97% success rate in investigating serious crimes such as attempted murder and rape, while also dismantling major human trafficking networks. High-profile cross-border rescues—from Kakarbhitta to Kuwait and Libya—highlighted a period during which arrests in trafficking cases surged by more than 27% compared to previous years.
Financial and Cybercrime Enforcement
The police also made significant progress in combating financial and cybercrime. Notable cases included the arrest of five Chinese nationals and one French national involved in an ATM hacking syndicate, as well as the prevention of a massive Rs 5 billion system hack targeting the Agricultural Development Bank. Authorities also dismantled an African-led cyber-theft ring and arrested more than 120 Chinese nationals allegedly operating illegal financial schemes within Nepal.
Crackdowns on illegal organ harvesting led to the prosecution of high-level hospital administrators, signaling that no individual or institution was above the law.
Record Seizures in Gold and Narcotics Cases
In terms of financial recovery and narcotics control, Khanal’s administration oversaw some of the largest seizures in the department’s history. Police recovered more than 154 kilograms of illegal gold, contributing nearly Rs 675 million to national revenue. Total revenue collection during this period reached Rs 6.81 billion, bolstered by enhanced traffic enforcement and customs fraud detection.
On the narcotics front, the seizure of nearly 14,000 kilograms of various drugs—the highest volume recorded in 15 years—and the arrest of more than 8,700 traffickers underscored a zero-tolerance approach toward drug trafficking and organized smuggling.
Action Against High-Profile Figures
Khanal’s administration moved against high-profile figures, including former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara on attempted rape charges and Mohammad Aftab Alam in connection with a decade-old mass murder case in Rautahat.
Political Alliance and Campaign Strategy
Now, Khanal is leading an alliance of youth-focused and reformist parties. His Samunnata Nepal Party has partnered with the National Transformation Party, led by Rajesh Portel, a prominent Gen-Z figure, and the Ujyalo Nepal Party, led by former Nepal Electricity Authority chief and former Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation of Nepal, Kulman Ghising.
The three parties are collaborating under a single proportional representation symbol: the Bamboo Flute.
Khanal is currently engaged in intensive door-to-door campaigning in Simara and surrounding areas of Bara-4. He faces stiff competition from candidates representing the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and 37 other contenders.
From Police Leadership to Political Aspirations
His message to voters centers on the same “iron-fist” approach he applied to crime control, promising to bring accountability and discipline to Parliament. His record of uncovering match-fixing and neutralizing armed groups was a notable achievement.
As election day approaches, voters in Bara will decide whether the man credited with improving Nepal’s global security standing is the right candidate to represent them in the House of Representatives.
Khanal entered politics by joining the CPN (UML) in September 2022. However, his initial electoral bids were unsuccessful. In the 2022 general election, he contested from Kathmandu-6 but finished second with 8,911 votes, losing to Shishir Khanal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who secured 14,204 votes.
Six months later, in the April 2023 by-election in Tanahun-1—vacated by Ram Chandra Poudel following his election as President—Khanal again fell short. He placed third with 8,488 votes, behind RSP candidate Swarnim Wagle, who won decisively with 34,919 votes, and Nepali Congress candidate Govinda Bhattarai.
These consecutive defeats marked a challenging start to his political career. He eventually resigned from the CPN (UML) in early 2025 to pursue an independent path, later forming his own political party and launching a new chapter in his public life.
Susan Shrestha
View More PostsSusan Shrestha is a Europe-based journalist. He covers a wide range of topics, from local matters to global affairs. Shrestha previously worked as a reporter for Khasokhas in Nepal.
