BIRATNAGAR: The District Police Office, Morang, has said that under the leadership of Superintendent of Police (SP) Kabit Katuwal, it has prioritized crime investigation, drug control, suppression of illegal activities, police service reform, and community-focused policing over the past year.
Releasing its performance report covering the period from Shrawan 1, 2082 BS (mid-July 2025) to the present, the office stated that efforts have been made to make police services more transparent, accountable, technology-friendly, and citizen-oriented.
Anti-drug mega campaign
Morang Police launched the “Anti-Drug Mega Campaign-2083” on Jestha 10, 2083 BS (May 24, 2026), concluding that rising drug abuse can only be reduced through collective effort and sustained commitment. The campaign has already begun in nine of the district’s 17 local governments, while programs will gradually be expanded to the remaining eight.
To engage young people, police also organized a TikTok competition carrying positive anti-drug messages. According to the report, 286 TikTok videos were received from across the country. The top five participants were awarded cash prizes, while other participants received gift hampers.
Faster investigation of serious crimes
The performance report states that Morang Police has given special priority to the investigation of serious crimes. In a case on Falgun 10, 2082 BS (Feb. 22, 2026), a woman’s body was found under a culvert near a leather industry in Biratnagar Metropolitan City-17, with her hands and legs tied and wrapped in cloth. Police said that Roshan Sah, accused of involvement in the murder, was arrested within about two hours and brought into legal proceedings. His brother Dipendra Sah was also brought under investigation for allegedly assisting in the disposal of the body.
Similarly, in a case from Kartik 7, 2082 BS (Oct. 24, 2025), police identified a decomposed body found in Chisang Community Forest in Letang Municipality-1 as that of 13-year-old Anshu Gautam. Following the investigation, neighbor Padam Bahadur Adhikari was found to be involved. He was brought back from India and legal action was initiated against him on charges including attempted rape and murder.
Probe into illegal extortion inside prison
Based on information that inmates in Morang Prison were being forced to pay unauthorized amounts, police said investigations are ongoing against Abhishek Giri, Bijay Kamat, Sanjay Mandal, and Binod Kumar Singh on charges related to criminal gain, organized crime, and money laundering.
Police said the investigation shows that law enforcement is not limited to street crime but is also focused on illegal activities that may operate from within correctional facilities.
Weapons and fake documents seized
Under a Search & Seizure operation, police recovered two homemade pistols from an abandoned house near the old bus park in Letang Municipality-4 on Asar 21, 2083 BS (July 5, 2026). Further investigation is ongoing.
In another operation, acting on information that fake citizenship certificates and other government documents were being produced and sold from New Dolly Photo Studio in Biratnagar-11, police arrested two individuals.
Seized items included 12 fake citizenship certificates, two driving licenses, two mobile phones, one computer CPU, cash, blank birth registration forms, marriage and death registration materials, and stamp pads.
Land recovery and removal of encroachment
Police said action was taken regarding land registered in the name of a police post in Bargachhi, Biratnagar-3, which had long been occupied by private individuals. Through coordination and implementation of a court decision, the house was handed over to police on Asar 5, 2083 BS (June 19, 2026), and the process of constructing a new police post building has begun.
Similarly, encroached structures built on land belonging to Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar-7 were removed through coordination with relevant authorities. Police mobilized personnel and heavy equipment, including bulldozers, to clear the occupied land.
CCTV system restored
After CCTV cameras connected to the District Police Office were completely damaged during the Gen Z movement, new cameras worth approximately Rs. 3.4 million were installed and brought into operation in coordination with Biratnagar Metropolitan City and various organizations.
Police said the CCTV system is a crucial tool for urban crime control, monitoring, and investigation, and the new system is expected to significantly improve surveillance capacity.
668 awareness programs conducted
Morang Police said it has focused not only on investigating crimes after they occur but also on preventing them through community outreach.
A total of 668 awareness programs were conducted targeting local communities, schools, and youth on issues such as drug abuse, misuse of social media, sexual abuse, road accidents, and suicide prevention. According to the report, 36,650 people benefited from these programs.
Election security and service reform
Police claimed that security arrangements for the House of Representatives Election-2083 were effectively managed through coordination with security and related agencies, helping ensure a peaceful environment during the election.
To curb middlemen in police services, a visitor pass system has been introduced for service seekers entering police offices. Priority service has also been arranged at the gate for elderly persons, people with disabilities, and physically weak service seekers.
ID cards mandatory for plainclothes officers
Police personnel working in plain clothes under the Crime Investigation Branch have been required to wear official ID cards while on duty, a measure aimed at improving identification, accountability, and transparency. Since Poush 19, 2082 BS (Jan. 3, 2026), detainees have been receiving weekly counseling classes every Saturday under a “Custody Orientation Program” conducted by professional counselors.
Internal reform and performance-based system
Police said profiles have been prepared of individuals involved in activities such as extortion, theft, smuggling, fraud, drug trafficking, hundi transactions, and gambling.
An Internal Mobilization Standard-2082 has been introduced, under which police personnel cannot remain in the same unit for more than one year, commanders are assigned for fixed terms, and responsibilities are allocated based on performance.
According to the report, 477 police personnel have been rewarded and 21 have faced disciplinary action. Monthly performance review meetings are held with unit chiefs, and the best area police offices and police posts are rewarded.
Welfare, infrastructure, and digitalization
An Internal Welfare Fund has been established to support police personnel in difficult circumstances. The office has also constructed a laundry house and a separate single-story building for the complaint investigation section. Intercom facilities have been installed, 11 new computers and nine printers have been purchased, and a file-sharing system has been introduced as part of a “Less Paper” initiative.
Emergency call capacity expanded
The emergency 100 service previously operated with only three hunting lines. In coordination with the telecommunications office, the number has been increased to five simultaneous hunting lines, which is expected to improve emergency communication with police.
Crackdown on illegal timber and homemade liquorPolice reported seizing 930 cubic feet of illegal timber, detaining six individuals and five vehicles. The estimated value of the seized timber is Rs. 959,500, and it has been handed over to the forest office. Similarly, about 4,750 liters of illegal homemade liquor were seized, along with five individuals and four vehicles. Goods confiscated in customs evasion and smuggling cases were deposited with the concerned customs office.
Toward community-oriented and reform-oriented policing
The overall performance report suggests that Morang Police has attempted to combine strict law enforcement with community engagement and institutional reform.
Particularly notable are the expansion of anti-drug campaigns to local levels, youth awareness programs, restoration of CCTV surveillance, expansion of emergency phone services, efforts to eliminate middlemen, priority service for vulnerable citizens, mandatory IDs for plainclothes officers, performance-based rewards and punishment, and the paperless office initiative.
However, the report also notes that the real impact of such programs should be evaluated through regular data-based public reporting, investigation outcomes, case status, and citizen satisfaction surveys.
In a border district undergoing rapid urbanization like Morang, challenges related to drugs, smuggling, illegal financial transactions, fake documents, weapons, and organized crime are expected to persist. As such, future police priorities will need to focus on technology, intelligence gathering, community cooperation, and stronger investigative capacity.
The performance report presented under SP Kabit Katuwal’s leadership portrays an effort to build not only an action-oriented police force but also a community-oriented and service-reform-focused police organization.
