The Kavre Police have stated that they are investigating incidents of vandalism and arson that occurred during the Gen-Z protest on September 8 and 9. According to police, a special investigation has been launched based on complaints filed at the District Police Office in Dhulikhel regarding damage to six private properties. The office has planned to carry out further investigations and make arrests based on the evidence collected so far. Meanwhile, the Area Police Office in Banepa, under the district office, has arrested 11 individuals allegedly involved in vandalism, arson, and looting, and is conducting further legal action and investigation against them.
According to the office spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rabin Bista, monitoring, inspection, and investigation are being carried out regarding the damage caused to government structures in addition to the incidents mentioned in the complaints. The police have planned to arrest those who were involved in or instigated destructive activities in various locations, based on their identification and the evidence collected.
The victims have filed complaints with the security agencies seeking action against those involved in the vandalism, looting, and arson that took place in Banepa, Panauti, and Dhulikhel of Kavrepalanchok on September 9. According to police, the complaints also include evidence identifying those directly involved in the incidents as well as those who incited for them to occur. Earlier, the police had called for complaints to be submitted via email to help identify individuals responsible for arson and vandalism, particularly those targeting government property and public spaces. During the protests, 18 government and private structures in Kavrepalanchok district suffered major damage including municipal buildings, police offices, and the homes of elected representatives, which were vandalized, looted, and set on fire.
During the Gen-Z protest, four people from Kavrepalanchok lost their lives in Kathmandu. The Banepa Municipality Office was vandalized and set on fire during the demonstrations, resulting in the complete destruction of important documents and several vehicles. Similarly, protestors also vandalized and set fire to the Area Police Office in Banepa, the District Traffic Police Office in Banepa, as well as police posts in Panchkhal, Panauti, and Hinguwapati. Demonstrators also damaged the offices of Panauti Municipality, Panchkhal Municipality, and the Sunkoshi-Panchkhal Drinking Water Project. In addition, the offices of CPN-UML Kavre and the Nepali Congress in Banepa suffered heavy losses due to vandalism and arson.
The protesters vandalized those offices, took furniture and important documents outside, and set them on fire. Likewise, they looted, vandalized, and set fire to the homes of several individuals, including Nepali Congress Central Member Shiva Prasad Humagai, Dhulikhel Mayor Ashok Byanju, Panauti Mayor Ram Saran Bhandari, Deputy Mayor Gita Banjara, former Panauti Mayor Bhim Prasad Neupane(two houses), Ward No. 2 Chairperson Purushottam Adhikari, and businessman Rameshwar Thapa at his residence in Kushadevi, Panauti.
During the Gen-Z protest, police in Kavre arrested an additional 52 inmates who had escaped from various prisons and sent them to the respective authorities through the District Prison Dhulikhel. At that time, police had also arrested eight individuals from Banepa Municipality-9, seizing 730 rounds of ammunition from them.
National News Agency