Kathmandu, Nov. 3 -- Nepal's security chiefs have flagged escaped inmates and stolen weapons as major threats ahead of the March 5 parliamentary elections.

At a security review and election preparedness meeting at Nepali Army headquarters on Sunday, the chiefs said the September 9 incidents of thousands of inmates fleeing several prisons and arms theft had posed a serious challenge to the election security. They emphasised the need for both independent and joint operations to recover stolen weapons, recapture escaped inmates, and curb groups threatening public order.

Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel convened the meeting, attended by Inspector General of Nepal Police Chandra Kuber Khapung, Inspector General Raju Aryal of Armed Police...