Call Detail Records Reveal Extensive Communication Between Security Officials and Political Leadership During Violent Incidents on Bhadra 23 and 24

Kathmandu. Telephone communication was extensive between high-ranking security officials, political leadership, and individuals on the streets during the violent incidents across the country on Bhadra 23 and 24. Analysis of the Call Detail Records (CDR) and BTS data obtained during the investigation into the incidents revealed contacts ranging from Suden Gurung, who was on the street distributing water, to the then IGP, the Prime Minister's Secretariat, the Home Minister, and the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu.

The call details show that while vandalism and arson incidents were occurring on Bhadra 24, Suden Gurung contacted Armed Police Force IGP Raju Aryal six times and then Kathmandu Police Chief Bishwa Adhikari twice. This communication between Suden Gurung and high-ranking security officials occurred at a time when the country faced serious security challenges.

Then IGP Chandra Kuber Khapung appeared very active within the internal network of security officials. He had 42 telephone conversations with Bishwa Adhikari over those two days. Furthermore, the data shows four conversations between the current IGP Dan Bahadur Karki and Khapung, and 53 contacts between Bishwa Adhikari and Om Rana. Armed Police Force IGP Raju Aryal also contacted Khapung twice and the current IGP Dan Bahadur Karki once.

Army chiefs were also connected to this communication network. The thread of this network appears to connect to the political leadership. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and his secretariat were in continuous contact with the high-level security apparatus during this period. Armed Police Force IGP Raju Aryal communicated 11 times with both mobile numbers of Home Minister Lekhak, while former IGP Khapung made eight contacts. Home Minister's PA Janak Bhatta called Bishwa Adhikari four times and Khapung three times.

In addition, the secretariat of the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was also active during this time. Oli's PA Rajesh Bajracharya contacted Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Khapung, and Bishwa Adhikari, among others, while Vishnu Rimal from the Prime Minister's Secretariat contacted Armed Police Force IGP Aryal and the CDO of Kathmandu, according to the data.

At the center of all these developments and high-level directives was the then Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu, Chhabi Rijal. According to the CDR report, CDO Rijal spoke nine times with the then Home Secretary Gokramanmani Dawadi, seven times with the then Chief Secretary Eknarayan Aryal, and ten times with the then Joint Secretary Anand Kafle on Bhadra 23 and 24.

Additionally, he also contacted Ramesh Lekhak, his PA, Armed Police Force IGP Raju Aryal, Bishwa Adhikari (four times), Police Officer Om Rana, and Vishnu Rimal from the Prime Minister's Secretariat.