Following the death of 19 people during the GenZ protest by young students against corruption and social media in Kathmandu on 8 September, demonstrations took place in Kanchanpur on 9 September. From early morning, during the GenZ movement, protesters vandalized and set fire to government offices, including the District Attorney’s Office, District Administration Office, and Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, as well as party offices, homes of leaders, MPs, ministers, and private properties in Bhimdatta Municipality.
In the morning, protesters set fire to and vandalized the party offices of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, and demonstrated by setting fire at the main gate of Bhimdatta Municipality. They then moved to the nearby office of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, claiming that corruption was increasing rather than being stopped, and vandalized it with stones before proceeding to the District Administration Office. Thousands of protesters reached the District Administration Office, set tires on fire, and demonstrated by burning them. They then went to the house of outgoing Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak in Galandi, Bedkot Municipality-8, vandalized it, and set it on fire. Immediately afterward, they also set fire to his house in Mahendranagar, Ward-4, Bhimdatta Municipality. Additionally, the protesters vandalized and set fire to the Government Attorney’s Office in Bhimdatta Municipality-4. Protesters vandalized and set fire to the homes of former Chief Minister Rajendra Singh Rawal of Sudurpashchim Province, former MP Nirudevi Pal, former Mayor Surendra Bista of Bhimdatta, and former Physical Infrastructure Minister Surendra Pal of Sudurpashchim Province.
Similarly, protesters vandalized and set fire to the homes of Sudurpashchim Province’s Minister for Internal Affairs Hira Sarki, Mayor Padam Bogati of Bhimdatta Municipality–2, Ultakham, Deputy Mayor Nilam Lekhak of Bhimdatta Municipality, Provincial Assembly member Madhu Bharati of Sudurpashchim Province, Mayor Bhojraj Bohara of Bedkot Municipality, Chief of the District Coordination Committee Durgadatta Bohara, Karnali Province Chief Yagya Raj Joshi, Economic Affairs Minister Prakash Rawal of Sudurpashchim Province, Provincial Assembly member Maya Panta, and Economic Affairs Minister Bahadur Singh Thapa of Sudurpashchim Province. The fires set at these officials’ homes caused damage worth millions in property, valuables, and cash.
Likewise, Hotel Opera, CMG Casino, and the Ncell Center were also damaged during the post. During the GenZ protest, they also targeted the Krishnapur and Punarbas Municipality offices, all 12 ward offices of Shuklaphanta Municipality, wards 2, 5, and 7 offices of Krishnapur, and set fire to two motorcycles and two scooters. Protesters also vandalized and set fire to the house of Krishnapur Mayor Bishnu Ojha, looting gold, silver, and cash from the property. Additionally, the Congress Party office in Dodhara Chandani and the party office in Beldandi Rural Municipality were vandalized and set on fire.
During the arson at the District Administration Office in Kanchanpur, police fired some rounds of tear gas to control the crowd. SP Khadak Bahadur Khatri of Kanchanpur stated that thousands of protesters gathered at once, far outnumbering the security personnel, making it impossible to fully control the demonstration. The security administration in Kanchanpur stated that, due to their restraint, there was no loss of life. Following the violent protests, the Nepali Army was deployed in Kanchanpur from the morning of 10 September. With security forces, including the army, deployed in Mahendranagar and other markets and areas, the district has become deserted.
Police spokesperson Sagar Bohara of Kanchanpur stated that, under the nationwide curfew, joint patrols of the army, police, and armed police have been deployed across various locations in the district. He stated that they are currently deployed jointly throughout the district and will be deployed in additional necessary locations as well. He emphasised not to go outside except for essential work. The District Administration Office of Kanchanpur had imposed the prohibition from 11 AM on 10 September. Following the recent political unrest, educational institutions, industries, businesses, transportation, and commercial activities in Kanchanpur have come to a halt.