Phanendra Sharma of Sainamaina Municipality–3 has reached the age of 64. Sharma, who has long been active in the social sector, leads a simple life and is a person of high ideals. Alongside business activities, having worked for a long time as a Nepali Congress worker in politics, Sharma is now the Mayor of Sainamaina Municipality. Sharma possesses a spirit of service and has always been concerned with how to deliver services to the people. He has two sons living in the United States: one is a doctor and the other an engineer. Sharma’s wife, Radha Sharma, is a teacher at Parroha Secondary School. The family was happy and content, but that happiness did not last long due to the Gen-Z movement on September 8 and 9.
The house, a two-and-a-half-story building that the Sharma couple had painstakingly built in 2008 AD, became a target of the Gen-Z movement. All the property they had earned drop by drop through hard work day and night was reduced to ashes in the name of the Gen-Z movement. Except for the single set of clothes on their bodies, nothing remained; the house and assets acquired through years of sweat were destroyed in an instant. “This was property earned through so much hardship and sweat, and it was all turned to ashes like this,” said Mayor Sharma, with tears welling up in his eyes. Sharma, who had never been involved in any disputes until now, had always believed in the principle that elected representatives must serve the people. In the 287.81 sq. meters house in Sainamaina Municipality–3, the Sharma couple lived together.
Along with Sharma’s two-and-a-half-story house, all the belongings inside were completely burned to ashes. Currently, there is nothing left in Sharma’s house except the ashes. Additionally, motorcycle number Lu 3 Pa. 7548 was also destroyed. When the protesters began setting fire and causing destruction in the house, Sharma called the DSP, SP, and CDO of the police. However, the police administration told him that they could not do anything in this situation and that he should take care of his own safety. Sharma repeatedly requested that the municipality send the fire brigade, but the police said it was impossible to dispatch the fire service under such circumstances. “No one listened to me,” Sharma lamented in a subdued voice. Sharma’s two-and-a-half-story house remains in a ruined state to this day. Technicians have already inspected the house, and according to them, the walls are no longer usable. In the current condition, the house cannot be repaired and used without demolition. Seeing the state of the house he had painstakingly built, Sharma stands in front of the burnt remains, disheartened. He feels that even if the municipal fire brigade had arrived, such extensive damage might have been unavoidable.
Sharma says, “There should be a thorough investigation and strict action against those who destroy property earned through hard work and sweat.” The Sharma family demands that those responsible be held accountable based on the truth, as the house the husband and wife painstakingly built over time, saving little by little from their earnings as a teacher, was reduced to ashes, leaving them homeless. According to local sources, most of those who led the protests and caused destruction were activists of the Rashwap, with some members of the CPN (Maoist) also involved. Not only Sharma’s movable and immovable property but also all the memories they had accumulated so far were destroyed in the fire, including the educational certificates and academic achievements of their two sons. INSEC conducted an on-site monitoring of the incident, marking the first time the organization visited to understand the family’s suffering. Sharma said that evidence is being collected regarding the incident, and complaints will be filed after the documentation. He urged INSEC to help ensure accountability for acts of destruction, arson, and looting of individual property and to hold the state responsible toward its citizens. The police registered a report regarding the incident on September 9. Due to the destruction, arson, and looting, Sharma suffered damage exceeding 10 million Nepali rupees.