Man Attempts Self-Immolation After Dispute With Police Over Wheel Lock

Kathmandu. A 25-year-old Ganesh Nepali attempted self-immolation at Gate No. 3 of the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu on Thursday afternoon. It has been found that before attempting self-immolation, there was a heated dispute with a female police officer on duty from the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Force over a 'wheel lock'.

Ganesh was riding through a ride-sharing app. A video conversation is heard where Ganesh protested after the Metropolitan Police applied a wheel lock on his Pulsar motorcycle, bearing number Ba.Pra.02-064 Pa 3250. According to a police officer from the District Police Range, Kathmandu, involved in the investigation, Ganesh questioned why the lock was applied even when the motorcycle was placed on an elevated part outside the road. He questioned the city police why his motorcycle was locked while others were not.

As the dispute escalated, Ganesh asked, 'Does she look down on people?' Then the female police officer said, 'Who will take responsibility for breaking this mobile?' Ganesh denied breaking the mobile of the female police officer and protested, 'Did I break it?'

Ganesh, who is from Soru Rural Municipality-6, Mugu, and resides in Bhaktapur, was sitting on his motorcycle with his helmet on during the dispute. As the dispute intensified, the female police officer further questioned him while he was on the motorcycle, 'Are you not listening? Why did you run away after knocking down my mobile?'

Ganesh protested, saying, 'Where did I stop, should I tell you? Why was the lock applied then?' Then the female police officer questioned in a loud voice, 'If she stopped in an inappropriate place, what should I do other than apply the lock? Should I put a garland?'

Here is the dialogue:

Metropolitan Police: I will apply it to those who don't listen.

Ganesh: Does she look down on people?

Metropolitan Police: Who will take responsibility for breaking this mobile?

Ganesh: Did I break it?

Metropolitan Police: Why did you throw my mobile? You have to take responsibility for breaking the mobile.

Ganesh: Won't it break if it falls on its own? You come to apply a lock when the bike is elevated?

Metropolitan Police: Where are you going? Why are you running away? Are you not listening? Why did you run away after knocking down my mobile?

Ganesh: Where did I stop, should I tell you? Why was the lock applied then?

Metropolitan Police: If she stopped in an inappropriate place, what should I do other than apply the lock? Should I put a garland?

Metropolitan Police: I said it cannot be removed, didn't I?

Ganesh: Does she apply a lock even when sitting on the bike?

Ganesh requested to have the wheel lock removed. However, the Metropolitan Police insisted on removing the wheel lock only after the fine amount was paid. According to an official from the District Police Range, Kathmandu, involved in the investigation, Ganesh then took petrol from his motorcycle, poured it on himself, and set himself on fire.

He is currently undergoing treatment at Bir Hospital. Ganesh had left for a ride through a ride-sharing app from his brother's rented room in Balaju at 5 AM on Thursday. Family members told the police that although he lives in Bhaktapur with his wife and son, he had stayed at his brother's rented room the previous night before going to work.