Kathmandu, Apr. 10: A task force has recommended that the government create a strong paramilitary force to combat terrorism, including secessionist movements and communal discords.

An Armed Security Force (ASF) should be formed to fight back terrorist activities, abductions, rebellions and communal discords and the force should be headquartered regionally, said a report submitted to the government today.

The ASF should be headed by an Inspector General and should have over 15,000 personnel split in nine battalions and one regiment each stationed in five development regions.

“The ASF should be a separate entity created through a new act,” said the task force headed by former Home Secretary Khem Raj Regmi. The task force was commissioned in February.

The report handed in to Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi contains 14 recommendations that suggest that the ASF consist of 15,156 personnel – about one half of the officers and the jawans from the police and the other half from the Royal Nepalese Army.

The ASF should be under Home Ministry’s general monitoring and control, the report said.

The armed police will be stationed in the barracks and will be armed with automatic and semi-automatic weapons, the report said. “The ASF should be provided with professional training. The service conditions and facilities should establish ASF as a attractive service institution, it said.

There should be a Security Service Commission to ensure independent selection for recruitment of able and deserving personnel in the ASF and other security committees at district and regional levels. The Commission should also consist of representatives from the army.

The existing riot police, special task force, police training academy at Kakani and armed police training academy at Dandapakhar should be assimilated in the new Security Force, the report added.

The force will be mobilised as per the request of the district security committee, which will have to be endorsed by regional and central security committees.

The Force, according to the report, will be mobilised for monitoring the border when the law and order situation is peaceful in the country. The force will also be supplementary to the regular army in times of need and to the police during the general and local elections.