Crime Review: A Look Back at the Year 082

Kathmandu. On 15 Chaitra 2081, protests were held under the banners of the 'Nation, Nationality, Religion, Culture, and Citizen Protection Campaign' led by Durga Prasai and the 'Joint People's Movement Committee for the Restoration of Monarchy' led by Navaraj Subedi.

Violence erupted after Durga Prasai broke through a police cordon while driving vehicle Bagmati Province-027 Cha 3847, heading towards Baneshwor. As police fired tear gas at the stage, the assembly dispersed, and protesters turned to vandalism.

Journalist Suresh Rajak and 29-year-old Sabin Maharjan, a resident of Kirtipur Municipality-4, lost their lives in the Tinkune incident. After the movement, Durga Prasai, who was arrested from India on 28 Chaitra, was arrested multiple times in the year 2082 as well.

In the Tinkune incident, the government prosecuted Prasai for murder and crimes against the state. In the following days, Prasai faced cases related to banking offenses, money laundering, and mobilizing people to threaten Nepali businessmen in the name of Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

The Gen-Z movement took place on 23 and 24 Bhadra 082. The interim government formed after the movement was led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. The government led by Sushila Karki arrested Prasai multiple times. During the interim cabinet's tenure, Prasai was arrested 5 times.

Anticipating that he could disrupt the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly elections held on 21 Falgun, security agencies analyzed Prasai as a 'security challenge.' Prasai, who was arrested on 17 Falgun before the election, remained in custody throughout the election period.

Even as the country headed into elections after the Gen-Z movement, Prasai was not prepared to participate. He continuously tried to take to the streets against the government with 26 demands, including system change and the waiver of loans up to 2 million, while the government tried to stop him.

To prevent him from protesting and disrupting the election environment, Interim Prime Minister Karki held talks with Prasai. The then Prime Minister Karki also gave assurances to take initiatives to fulfill his demands. However, Prasai kept trying to go to the streets, claiming his demands were not met.

The government could not charge him with any serious offense, but he was kept in custody by adopting a security strategy of detaining him for offenses against public peace, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Chief District Officer.

After being released following his arrest in Mangsir, Prasai met with interim government Prime Minister Sushila Karki 3 times. Prasai's demand to amend the constitution and form an interim constitution before going to the election was not met; the government conducted the election.

• Here is the series of Prasai's arrests-

– 2 Mangsir 2082: Offense against public peace.

– 5 Magh 2082: Offense against public peace.

– 23 Magh 2082: Violation of election code of conduct.

– 4 Falgun 2082: Activities to disrupt the election.

– 17 Falgun 2082: Offense against public peace.

• What was TOB?

The group became very famous after Tenzing Dawa Lama, the commander of the group that caused terror wearing T-shirts with 'TOB' written on them during the Gen-Z protests, was arrested. The main reason for the fame was that Tenzing Dawa did not have Nepali citizenship. He is of Tibetan origin. People continuously questioned the group, suspecting that the Tibetan-led group had infiltrated the Gen-Z protests.

The police also filed cases against him related to citizenship, passport, and documents. There were 57 members in TOB, which stands for 'Tibetan Original Blood'. On 8 Mangsir, Kathmandu police released their link chart and stated that the group was not 'criminal' but a bikers' group. Tenzing, who grew up in Boudha, led the group.

Although Tenzing is the commander, TOB members consider Surendra Gurung 'Hakim' as their role model. Kathmandu SSP Ramesh Thapa informed that there were 57 members in TOB. TOB was established on 10 June 2024.

TOB was formed for the purpose of providing social service and traveling. Tenzing had been running 'TOB Tattoo House' at Phulbari Complex in Boudha since 2017. Hakim had suggested naming the group led by Tenzing 'The Original Brothers'. Hakim is a rapper. Some TOB members also write 'Hakim' on their T-shirts.

31 TOB members were involved in the Gen-Z protest on 23 Bhadra. Police investigation concluded that most of them were from a student background.

They are involved in a WhatsApp group named 'TOB Blood'. After TOB member Sonam Sherpa informed them about participating in the Gen-Z protest, they went to the movement riding Bullet bikes. They had been involved in rides for the past year and a half.

The group's commander, Tenzing Dawa Lama, has been released on bail. According to the order of the Kathmandu District Court, he was released after paying a bail of 520,000.

Another famous incident this year was, 'The arrest of Resham Chaudhary based on a letter from a section officer of the Supreme Court.'

In Jestha 2082, Resham Chaudhary, patron of the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NAUPA), was arrested from Kamalpokhari. Resham, who was released after receiving a sentence pardon from the President, caused a stir in national politics after his sudden arrest. Supreme Court section officer Mahiman Singh Bista had written an unauthorized letter and misled the then police leadership to get Resham arrested. Bista, who was released on bail at that time, has been convicted by the court for forging government documents.

Former Chief of Madhesh Province, Rajesh Jha (Ahiraj), was arrested this year. He was arrested on 4 Shrawan in a rape case. Ahiraj is currently in Dillibazar Prison.

Narayan Poudel, the owner of the 250 million cash seized from Tokha, appeared in court on 8 Shrawan 2082. The court released him on a bail of 3.5 million. Poudel is a local of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-4, Sindhupalchok. The Department of Revenue Investigation had filed a case on 2 Baisakh, making Poudel and truck (container) driver Kusang Lama 'Phuchche' defendants.

On 4 Chaitra 2081, around 10 PM, a team from the Valley Crime Investigation Office had seized the cash from truck number Na. 7 Kha 1652 at Jhor Mahankal in Tokha.

• These painful murders

On 22 Ashar, a young man killed 4 members of the same family in Dhodlekhani, Ramprasad Rai Rural Municipality-2, Bhojpur. 30-year-old Rajendra Rai, a resident of Helauchha, Bhojpur Municipality-2, went to his in-laws' house and killed his mother-in-law, father-in-law, wife, and brother-in-law.

Inspector Deepak Shrestha of the District Police Office, Bhojpur, had informed Ratopati at that time that all four were brutally murdered by stabbing. The accused killed 68-year-old Bel Bahadur Giri, 45-year-old Manju Giri, Manisha Giri, and Sapan Giri. Manisha is the wife of the accused. After the murder, he called the police control and said, 'I have killed four people, come and arrest me.' The accused of the murder is currently in prison.

On 25 Chaitra, a young man killed two people by stabbing them in the Krishna Mandir premises in Lalitpur Metropolitan City-12. The deceased were brothers from the same family.

33-year-old Sumit Nemwang and 25-year-old Srijan Nemwang, residents of Kamal Rural Municipality-6, Jhapa, who were living in Imadol, Lalitpur, were murdered in the Patan Durbar Square area. Sanjeev Nepali 'Sanju', a resident of Lalitpur, killed them after a dispute arose when a phone call went to the wrong number.

In Poush 2082, two people killed two others in the Jyamirkot forest in Mahalaxmi Municipality-8, Lalitpur. 21-year-old Devraj Dhungel and 20-year-old Jayaram Adhikari, residents of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-4, Sindhuli, killed Keshavraj Hayu and Paruhang Rai. Police investigation revealed that they brutally murdered the two in different places by hitting them on the head and testicles with a hammer after making them unconscious by feeding them alcohol.

Devraj was in a love relationship with Keshavraj Hayu's sister. He sent his girlfriend to Japan by borrowing money. Devraj had borrowed 1.2 million from Keshavraj and 500,000 from Paruhang to repay the loan. Devraj planned the murder after both Keshavraj and Paruhang started asking for the money lent about 4 months ago.

An Indian engineer was found dead in Dhapakhel, Lalitpur Metropolitan City-24, in Kartik 2082. 46-year-old Dev Kumar was found dead on 19 Kartik. His body was found buried in the passage of a colony under construction in Dhapakhel. Police investigation revealed that the Indian engineer, who came to Nepal to design the building, was murdered with his hands and feet tied. However, the police have not been able to arrest the accused of the murder yet. The crime scene falls under the area of Police Circle, Satdobato.

• Inquiry Commission and High-Profile Arrests

The commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki, formed to investigate the Gen-Z protests, had recommended filing criminal cases against former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. The commission's investigation concluded that they, along with the officials of the Central Security Committee, were responsible for the human casualties that occurred on 23 and 24 Bhadra. Oli and Lekhak were leading the government when the movement took place.

Based on the commission's recommendation, Oli and Lekhak were arrested on 14 Chaitra. The police have taken their statements. They were released on personal recognizance 13 days after their arrest. The investigation file against them is pending with the police.

Not only Oli and Lekhak, but after the cabinet led by Balendra 'Balen' Shah was formed on 13 Chaitra, high-profile individuals were arrested one after another. CPN-UML Provincial Committee member Karna Bahadur Malla was arrested on charges of rape. Former Minister Deepak Khadka was arrested on 15 Chaitra. The Department of Money Laundering Investigation is investigating Khadka.

Businessman Deepak Bhatta was arrested by the police from Naxal on 19 Chaitra. The Department of Money Laundering Investigation is also investigating Bhatta. Shankar Group Chairman Shankarlal Agrawal was arrested and released. Director General of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation, Gajendra Thakur, told Ratopati that Agrawal, who was arrested on 20 Chaitra, was released after taking his statement.

Shankar's son Sulav Agrawal has also been arrested. Sulav, a director of Shankar Group, is currently in the custody of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation.

Lumbini Provincial Assembly member Rekha Kumari Sharma was arrested on 16 Chaitra. Sharma, who lives in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu-4, was accused of committing a crime related to children by torturing a girl working in her house. Rekha has now been released by the court's order.

• Prakash Pathak, who threatens VIPs

Prakash Pathak, who threatened high-profile individuals including CIAA Chief Prem Kumar Rai, is currently in police custody. Police investigation revealed that Pathak, who was arrested with the help of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), had taken 'supari' (contract money) from the then Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, Pradip Adhikari, to threaten the CIAA Chief.

In his statement to the investigating officers, Pathak admitted to taking money from Pradip Adhikari. The CIAA was investigating a complaint about irregularities in the construction of a helipad in Nalinchok, Bhaktapur. Police investigation concluded that Adhikari mobilized a criminal 'gang' against the CIAA Chief to avoid those cases while the CIAA was also investigating the corruption case of Pokhara International Airport.

Pathak has admitted in his statement that he took 20 million in cash from Adhikari. According to the police officers involved in the investigation, Pathak said in his statement, 'I took 20 million rupees from him.'

Investigation revealed that Adhikari sent the money through Hundi via a Chinese contractor. It was found that Pathak bought an apartment in the Philippines with that money. He was brought to Nepal from the Philippines on 28 Magh. He had threatened 10 high-profile individuals, including the CIAA Chief, through social media (Facebook).

Pradip Adhikari, who is linked to the threat case, is also going to be a defendant in that case. Pathak had posted a video on social media and threatened to kill Lokman Singh Karki, Gopal Bahadur Khadka, Ramesh Lekhak, Balkrishna Khand, Arzu Rana, Om Bikram Rana, Hem Bahadur Gurung, Ramesh Chand Thakuri, and Durga Prasai.