During the protests organized by the Gen-Z generation on September 8 and 9, demanding an end to widespread corruption and misgovernance in the country and the restoration of social media services, preliminary information has been received that 305 physical infrastructures and 699 vehicles were set on fire and vandalized in various districts of Sudurpaschim Province. Among the nine districts of Sudurpaschim Province, damage occurred in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Doti, Dadeldhura, Baitadi, and Darchula, with Kailali District suffering the most, where 137 physical infrastructures and 678 vehicles were damaged. The District Administration Offices have stated that it will take some time to collect the confirmed details of the damage caused to physical infrastructures and vehicles due to arson and vandalism during the protests. The preliminary details of the damages to physical infrastructures and vehicles, obtained through field and media monitoring, are as follows:
According to information received from INSEC representative Mainamoti Chaudhary, during the protests on September 9 vandalized and set fire to 137 physical infrastructures and 678 vehicles. According to the preliminary details from the District Administration Office, Kailali: five police buildings, 103 government offices, 17 party offices, and 12 private houses altogether 137 physical infrastructures were damaged. Likewise, 114 four-wheelers, 543 motorcycles, 15 bicycles, and 6 three-wheelers altogether 678 vehicles were set on fire.
According to Information Officer Shivraj Joshi of the District Administration Office, Kailali, among the five police buildings, three were completely destroyed and two partially damaged; among the 103 government offices, two were completely destroyed, 70 were partially damaged, and 31 sustained minor damage; among the 17 party offices, 11 were partially damaged and six sustained minor damage; and among the 12 private houses, eight were partially damaged and four sustained minor damage. Information Officer Joshi further stated that 114 four-wheelers, 543 motorcycles, 15 bicycles, and 6 three-wheelers were completely burned and destroyed. He said: “The process of collecting detailed information about the extent of damage to each office is ongoing. We are coordinating with the heads of all government offices to collect full details of the damages. Since the process of collecting damage details of local government offices, ward offices, political party offices, and private houses is ongoing, the confirmed details of damages are yet to come.”
Preliminary details of damages to government and private structures due to arson and vandalism in Kailali District
1. Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers
2. Office of the Provincial Head
3. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law
4. Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development
5. Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forests and Environment
6. Ministry of Social Development
7. Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives
8. Provincial Assembly Building
9. Provincial Assembly Secretariat
10. Office of the Chief Attorney
11. Assembly Hall
12. District Administration Office
13. District Court
14. District Government Attorney’s Office
15. Kailali District Prison
16. District Forest Division Office
17. Urban Development and Building Construction Office
18. Customs Office
19. Internal Revenue Office
20. Office of the Treasury and Accounts Controller
21. Rural Consumer Protection Office
22. Transport Office
23. Land Reform and Land Revenue Office
24. Survey Office
25. Groundwater Resources Office
26. CIT Province Office
27. Cottage and Small Industries Office
28. Cooperative Division Office
29. Province Public Service Office
30. Office of Ward No. 4, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City
31. Office of Ward No. 8, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City
32. Office of Ward No. 13, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City
33. Godavari Municipality
34. Gauriganga Municipality
35. Ghodaghodi Municipality
36. Office of Ward No. 5, Ghodaghodi Municipality
37. Lamkichuha Municipality
38. Tikapur Municipality
39. Bhajani Municipality
40. Kailari Rural Municipality
41. Office of Ward No. 1, Kailari Rural Municipality
42. Office of Ward No. 2, Kailari Rural Municipality
43. Office of Ward No. 9, Kailari Rural Municipality
44. Office of Ward No. 5, Joshipur Rural Municipality
45. Office of Ward No. 7, Joshipur Rural Municipality
46. Nepali Congress Party Office
47. CPN-UML Party Office
48. CPN-Maoist Party Office
49. Bhatbhateni Supermarket
50. Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence, Dhangadhi
51. Residence of CPN-UML leader Lekhraj Bhatt
52. Residence of CPN-UML leader Harisingh Saud
53. Residence of Nepali Congress leader and Mayor of Godavari Municipality Birendra Bhatt
54. Residence of Nepali Congress leader and Chairperson of Kailari Rural Municipality Rajsamajh Chaudhary
55. Residence of Nagarik Unmukti Party leader Reshamlal Chaudhary
56. Residence of Nagarik Unmukti Party leader and Mayor of Tikapur Municipality Ramlal Dagoura
According to INSEC representative Satyaraj Singh, although the Gen-Z protesters carried out a peaceful demonstration in the headquarters of Chainpur Bajaar on 9 September, on 10 September, the protesters vandalized the office of Bungel Municipality. Tables, chairs, and documents in the offices of Mayor Jaybahadur Dhami and Deputy Mayor Dhanbahadur Bohara were set on fire by the protesters. However, local Suresh Dhami stated that the municipal building itself did not suffer any damage. Similarly, they also vandalized the office of Talakot Rural Municipality-1 on 10 September. Ward Chairperson Ramchandra Rawal reported that tables, laptops, drawers, sofas, chairs, learning center materials, postal files, and ward documents inside the office were burned by the protesters.
On the night of 9 September, out of 85 inmates in the District Jail of Bajhang, 65 inmates escaped after vandalizing the jail. Among them, 46 were arrested by the police, according to Jailor Rajendra Farada. During the arrests, Chandra Pun and Rohan Sunar, who were serving sentences for negligence of duty, were injured. Chandra Pun sustained minor injuries and was returned to the district jail after treatment, while the seriously injured Sunar was taken to Dhangadhi for further treatment and has now been transferred to Kailali Jail, according to Lokendra Thagunna, Information Officer and Inspector at the District Police Office, Bajhang.
According to INSEC representative Narendrasingh Karki, the protesters set fire to the office of Ward No. 3 of Duhu Rural Municipality on 9 September and vandalized the offices of the CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, Gokuleshwar Hospital, and Lokdarpan FM. Although materials in the offices were damaged due to the arson and vandalism, the District Administration Office of Darchula stated that the assessment of the exact extent of the damage is still underway.
According to INSEC representative Subash Nepali the protesters set fire and caused damage to the municipal bus of Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality, as well as the party offices of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML. They also vandalized the District Administration Office, the Land Revenue Office, the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Service Expert Center, and the Survey Office.
According to Chief District Officer Mohanraj Joshi the protesters vandalized the District Administration Office, causing damage to the office gate, 60 windows, a television, a BA 2 Jha numbered Scorpio vehicle, a scanner used in the National ID Branch, one iris device, one signature pad, one UPS, the glass of 13 windows at the Survey Office, the digital information board and six window glasses at the Agriculture Knowledge Center, and seven window glasses, the digital information board, and CCTV cameras at the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Service Expert Center.
Additionally, in Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality, municipal bus Se-1-Kha-1733 was set on fire, while bus Se-1-Kha-2079 and JC insurance were vandalized. The windows of the District Police Office building in Doti were broken, and a one-ton vehicle of the Armed Police Force was also damaged. According to INSEC representative Sherbahadur Bhandari, preliminary reports indicate that damage worth Rs 25,345,800 occurred in the district.
According to data provided by Subba Chandra Rokaya of the District Administration Office, Dadeldhura, arson and vandalism occurred at government and non-government offices, party offices, and the residence of the Minister of Social Development of Sudurpashchim Province. He stated that preliminary assessments indicate damage from the arson and vandalism at Amaragadhi Municipality, the Inland Revenue Office, the Land Revenue Office, the Survey Office, the Transport Office, the Election Office, the Rural Women’s Development and Unity Center (RUDUK), the Multipurpose Development Society (MPDS), the party offices of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), BP Congress, and the residence of Minister Saraswati Khadka.
According to the police report, as of 9 September, the estimated damages from arson and vandalism are as follows: Rs 2,999,694 at the Land Reform and Land Revenue Office in Dadeldhura, Rs 75,000 at the District Jail Office, Rs 541,000 at the Nepali Congress Party Office, Rs 713,500 at the Transport Office in Dadeldhura, Rs 2,880,000 in Amaragadhi Municipality, Rs 210,000 at the Amaragadhi Municipality-5 Office, Rs 5,000,000 at the Inland Revenue Office in Dadeldhura, Rs 1,389,306 at the Survey Office, Rs 1,404,000 at the Election Office in Dadeldhura, Rs 3,901,400 at RUDUK (Rural Women’s Development and Unity Center), Rs 4,010,000 at the residence of Minister Saraswati Khadka, Rs 1,227,000 at the CPN-UML Party Office, and Rs 1,020,900 at MPDS (Multipurpose Development Society). These amounts represent the preliminary assessment of losses caused during the protests.
The protesters vandalized and set fire to the offices of the CPN (Maoist Center), Rastriya Swatantra Party, and Nepali Congress BP, and also set fire to the Ward Office of Navadurga Municipality-5. However, the details of the damage to these locations are still pending.
According to Kamalapati Bhatta, Chief of the Land Revenue Office, two motorcycles, a computer, a printer, a scanner, and other equipment were destroyed. He stated that the glass windows were broken, and since some of the records were not digitally registered, those physical records were also destroyed.
According to INSEC representative Nari Badu, peaceful demonstrations were held in various locations across the district. However, on 10 September, the CPN-UML party office was vandalized, and the Maoist party office and an excavator in Purchaudi Municipality were set on fire. Taking advantage of the protests, 62 inmates in the district jail broke out and escaped. Among the 62 escaped prisoners, 51 have since returned to the jail, according to Inspector Balram Pandey of the District Police Office, Baitadi.
According to INSEC representative Lili Kunwar, in Kanchanpur on 9 September, protesters set fire to and vandalized the Government Attorney’s Office, District Administration Office, Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Bhimdatt Municipality, party offices, and the residences and vehicles of leaders, members of parliament, and ministers.
According to DSP Sagar Bohara of the District Police Office, Kanchanpur, 25 government offices, 12 private residences of leaders and public representatives, four commercial centers, and 16 vehicles were subjected to arson and vandalism.
The government offices that were subjected to arson and vandalism include the District Administration Office, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Office, the Government Attorney’s Office, the office of Shuklaphanta Municipality, and Ward Offices 1, 7, and 8 of Shuklaphanta Municipality. Additionally, the offices of Bhimdatta Municipality, Dodhara Chandani Municipality, Purnabas Municipality, and Krishnapur Municipality, as well as the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress party offices in Bhimdatta Municipality–18, were set on fire and vandalized. Other offices that were vandalized include the District Jail, local police stations, the offices of Tribhuwanbasti and Gulariya Police, Ward Offices 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of Shuklaphanta Municipality, Ward Offices 1, 2, 5 and 7 of Krishnapur Municipality, Beladandi Rural Municipality, the Maoist Party office, the Nepali Congress District Party office, and the Nepali Congress Party office in Dodhara Chandani.
Similarly, the protesters vandalised , set fire and looted at the residences of several political leaders. Two houses of former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were set on fire, vandalized, and looted, the house of former Chief Minister Rajendra Rawal was set on fire and looted, the house of former Minister Prakash Rawal was subjected to arson, vandalism, and looting. Two houses of Bhimdatta Municipality Mayor Padam Bogati, and the house of Deputy Mayor Nilam Lekhak of Bhimdatta Municipality, were set on fire and vandalized. Former CPN-UML MP Niru Pal’s two houses, Provincial Assembly member Madhu Bharti’s house, Bedkot Municipality Mayor Bhojraj Bohara’s house, former Bhimdatta Municipality Mayor Surendra Bista’s house, Chief Durgadatt Bohara’s house, Karnali Province Chief Yagyaraj Joshi’s house, and Krishnapur Municipality Mayor Hemraj Ojha’s house were also subjected to arson and vandalism.
Similarly, Hotel Opera and CMG Casino were vandalized and looted; Bipin Bookstore was set on fire and vandalized; Royal Sewing Center was subjected to arson and vandalism; and Diamond Casino was vandalized and looted.
The protesters set fire to the vehicle of the Mayor of Rehabilitation Municipality (Su Pa Pra 01 Cha 367), the vehicle of the Chief Administrative Officer (Se 1 Jha 230), and motorcycles numbered Su Pa Pra 01 Ba 2420, Su Pa Pra 01 2127, Se 1 Ba 289, Ba 99 Pa 1701, and Ma 1 Ba 651. They also set fire to three motorcycles and two scooters parked within the premises of Krishnapur Municipality Office. In addition, they vandalized the hearse and fire truck numbered Su Pa Pra 01002 Ga 178, a roller numbered Se 1 Ga 99, and a tractor numbered Se 1 Da 16.