Nine 'Criminal Mischief' Cases Filed in Kavrepalanchok District Court Following Protests

Kavrepalanchok. Nine cases related to 'criminal mischief' have been registered in the Kavrepalanchok District Court. These cases, initially registered at the District Police Office, Dhulikhel, were filed in court through the District Government Attorney's Office.

It is reported that the police filed nine cases based on specific complaints lodged against those involved in the protests that took place on Bhadra 23 and 24. Previously, cases of criminal mischief were filed based on complaints registered at the Area Police Office, Banepa, Police Post Panchkhal, and Gopi Thapa at Kushadevi, Panauti Municipality Ward 3, while six cases were registered with the police in recent months. According to Assistant District Attorney Nishtha Karmacharya, dozens of individuals have been charged in criminal mischief cases based on complaints filed by Shiv Prasad Humagai, then central member of the Nepali Congress in Panauti, Panauti Deputy Mayor Gita Banjara, former Panauti Mayor Bhim Neupane and his son Deepak Neupane, Ward 2 Chairman Purushottam Adhikari, and then Dhulikhel Mayor Ashok Byanjul, among others.

In Humagain's complaint, six individuals were named; Adhikari named 14 individuals; one complaint named 11 individuals; the Neupane duo named 20 individuals each in their complaints. The complaint filed by Mayor Ramsharan Bhandari has reportedly been kept pending. Most of those previously accused and arrested have been released on bail. The District Police Office stated that those in custody were released on bail after the government issued a circular before the elections.

Former Mayor Neupane mentioned in his complaint that the fire at his house on Bhadra 24 caused a loss of NPR 9,493,510. Deepak Neupane's complaint mentioned a loss of NPR 6,062,285, and Banjara's complaint mentioned a loss of NPR 8,413,000. Similarly, Adhikari mentioned a loss of NPR 656,000, and Humagain mentioned a loss of NPR 3,674,000.

Likewise, Byanju's specific complaint mentioned a loss of approximately NPR 6,000,000. Those filing specific complaints mentioned that their houses were subjected to arson, vandalism, and looting. 

According to the District Administration Office, significant damage was inflicted upon 18 government and private structures across the district during the protests. Damage through vandalism and arson was particularly inflicted upon the municipality building, police stations, and the homes of elected representatives. Four individuals from Kavrepalanchok lost their lives in Kathmandu during those protests.