Rautahat, Feb. 17 -- During the local elections in 2022, the scene of some locals running away with a ballot box from the Bhediyahi polling centre in ward 2 of Yamunamai Rural Municipality in Rautahat drew nationwide attention.

The ballot box was snatched while voting was under way, prompting sharp criticism of the Rautahat police for failing to maintain order. The Election Commission subsequently cancelled the vote at the centre and polling was conducted on another day under heavy security.

The incident, widely shared on social media and television, exposed glaring lapses in security arrangements and negligence by authorities. The disruption not only forced the cancellation of voting at the centre but also raised broader concerns about...