KATHMANDU: The government has promoted five Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) officers to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) posts, filling four current vacancies and one that will arise in three days.

The officers promoted are Bhupendra Khatri, Sanuram Bhattarai, Om Adhikari, Shekhar Khanal, and Abi Narayan Kafle, who were recommended for promotion on October 26.

Following the promotion, Khatri has been posted to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Bhattarai to the Crime Investigation Department, Om Adhikari to the Valley Police Office, Khanal to the CIAA, and Kafle to the Inspector General of Police Secretariat.

All five officers joined the police service as Inspectors in 1999.

However, two senior SSPs, Sharada Prasad Chaudhary and Bishwo Adhikari, who were ahead in seniority, were skipped.

Notably, Om Adhikari had served as Kathmandu Police Chief during the Gen Z movement and was removed from that position following a government change, which may have influenced the promotion decision.

The promotions follow a recommendation by the promotion committee, which considers both vacancies and seniority, but allows the government discretion in certain cases.