Commission Report Details Widespread Violence During Bhadra Protests, Recommends Action Against Leaders

Kathmandu. The report from the commission formed to investigate the protests on Bhadra 23 and 24 has depicted the agitation as an unprecedented nationwide violence and massive destruction in Nepal's history.

The commission concluded that the political party activists infiltrated the public outrage, which began after videos of casualties and police repression in Baneshwor on Bhadra 23 were broadcast live on social media, escalating the events of Bhadra 24 into extreme violence.

Although the movement started in the name of the Gen Z generation, the report pointed out the direct involvement of local-level leaders and cadres from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in the arson, vandalism, and looting on Bhadra 24.

The report includes claims from locals that RSP leaders and cadres were active in vandalism in districts including Chitwan, Sunsari, Jhapa, and Kanchanpur, with 80 percent of those involved in the incident in Gauradaha, Jhapa, belonging to RSP.

Furthermore, the report suggests that in some places, UML cadres instigated attacks on the houses of leaders from their own party to settle personal scores, while Maoist and RSP cadres were more visible in attacks targeting government offices.

The commission determined that cadres from the Congress and RPP, along with those from the Biplav and majority factions, incited the crowd by taking advantage of anti-establishment sentiment.

On Bhadra 24, the chaotic crowd committed arson and vandalism, violating curfew at key state organs including the Federal Parliament Building, Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court, the President's Office, and the Prime Minister's Residence. Extensive arson and looting occurred at the private residences of then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, former Prime Ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', and then-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

The alarming statistics mentioned in the report include looting worth billions from Bhatbhateni Super Market, Hilton Hotel, and banks, the complete destruction of 218 vehicles inside Singha Durbar alone, 20 deaths nationwide on that day, the looting of 1,342 weapons from police stations, and the escape of 14,555 inmates from various prisons.

It is estimated that the physical damage from the agitation was around NPR 85 billion. The commission held the political and administrative leadership primarily responsible for this massive destruction and security vacuum and recommended action.

The report recommended action under the Muluki Criminal Code, 2074, for 'criminal negligence' and carelessness against then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and then-Inspector General of Police Chandrakuber Khapung for failing to prevent the casualties on Bhadra 23 and the destruction on Bhadra 24.

Similarly, then-Home Secretary Gokulmani Duwadi, Inspector General of the Armed Police Force Raju Aryal, Intelligence Chief Hutraj Thapa, and then-Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Chhabiraj Rijal were called to be brought under the scope of action for failing in security coordination. The current Inspector General of Police, Dan Bahadur Karki, was also held accountable for creating a security vacuum by ordering the police to leave their barracks.

Military commanders who remained silent spectators while important structures were burning and delayed army mobilization were also recommended for action under the Army Act.

The report showed that besides political party cadres, a group named T.O.B., professional looters, drug users, and social media 'influencers' spreading false information also played a significant role in inciting violence.

Tank Dhakal, Arjun Dhakal, Shiva Pariyar, Himesh Pant, and Bhagya Neupane, among others, who spread false rumors such as the discovery of a body at Bhatbhateni in Chucchepati, were deemed responsible, and action was recommended against the operators of digital portals that mapped leaders' houses.

The commission admitted that due to a lack of time and manpower, it could not conduct a detailed investigation into incidents across the country and immediately prove every individual guilty. However, telephone tower data of individuals present during the vandalism at locations such as the Parliament Building, Singha Durbar, President's Office, and Supreme Court on Bhadra 24 has been collected and included in the report.

The commission suggested that the government should now form a special investigation team including experts to conduct a detailed investigation by cross-referencing that telephone data with CCTV footage, social media videos, and other evidence to reach the actual culprits.