Former Jail Chief Claims Authorities Ignored Pleas for Army Deployment During Rabi Lamichhane Protests

Deputy Secretary Satyaraj Joshi, who was the chief of Nakhhu Prison during the 'Genji' movement, stated that the Chief District Officer and the Home Ministry did not heed his requests for assistance.

In his statement to the investigation commission formed to probe the 'Genji' movement, then-Jailer Joshi stated that his written and verbal requests for army deployment were ignored after thousands of protestors began attacking the main prison gate with stones and vandalism, chanting slogans like 'Release Rabi Lamichhane'.

"Around 13:40 on Bhadra 24, thousands of protestors began attacking the main prison gate with stones and vandalism, chanting 'Release Rabi Lamichhane'," Joshi's statement, included in the commission's report, reads. "As the crowd began to go out of control, a written and verbal request was made to the Chief District Officer and the Home Ministry for army deployment, but no additional security forces were immediately available."

He stated in his testimony that at 13:50 on Bhadra 24, the crowd broke the main jail gate, forcibly entered the prison, and took control. After the crowd entered the jail and began targeting Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, Joshi stated that Lamichhane was temporarily moved to the prison's psychosocial disabled inmate hospital for the safety of other inmates. However, he claimed the crowd found Lamichhane and took him outside.

Joshi stated in his testimony that after taking Lamichhane out, the enraged mob became even more furious and set fire to the prison administration's record room and the police building, forcing the police and armed police to retreat.

Joshi also stated in his testimony that to escape the arson, he hid inside the psychosocial disabled inmate hospital building within the jail, but the crowd subjected him to extreme threats and intimidation, forcing him to sign an unknown document under duress of life and death. He stated that he had no prior knowledge of the document's contents and signed it under coercion and a state of terror. He stated in his testimony that the document had no legal standing.