Police crackdown on public office brokers intensified

Kathmandu, April 4: The Nepal Police, in coordination with various government agencies, has launched a nationwide campaign to eliminate middlemen from public offices, aiming to ensure transparent, efficient, and complaint-free service delivery. The initiative is part of the government’s 100-point governance reform agenda.

According to Abi Narayan Kafle, spokesperson for Nepal Police Headquarters, circulars have been issued to all police units directing them to bar middlemen from entering government offices and take strict legal action against those involved in illegal practices.

“The process of monitoring, arresting, and controlling middlemen has already begun in offices where service seekers face harassment or undue influence,” Kafle said, urging citizens to report such activities through the emergency number 100 or at nearby police stations.

The directive includes measures such as installing CCTV cameras at office entrances, maintaining visitor logs, controlling unnecessary crowding, and preventing informal settlements of cases through unauthorized “panchayats,” particularly in the Tarai-Madhes region. Police have also deployed plainclothes officers to gather evidence and curb illegal activities.

Prabin Dhital, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, said that key service delivery institutions—including transport offices, land revenue offices, and the Department of Foreign Employment—are under close surveillance.

“We are working to ensure that citizens can access services without interference. Plainclothes officers are helping us collect evidence and take timely action,” Dhital said.

Police data shows that 34 individuals have been arrested from various government offices in the Kathmandu Valley over the past five days alone. Authorities say the campaign builds on earlier efforts but is now being implemented more aggressively.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation has issued a directive banning middlemen from survey and land revenue offices nationwide.

Ganesh Prasad Sigdel, a survey officer at the Department of Survey, said only individuals with valid identification will be allowed entry, and office heads will be held accountable for implementation lapses.

Officials have urged the public to avoid using middlemen, even if it promises faster service, and instead follow official procedures.

The campaign reflects a stronger and coordinated effort by the government led by Balendra Shah to curb corruption and ensure fair access to public services, addressing long-standing complaints in key service sectors.