Two Reports on Youth Protests Highlight Security Force Deficiencies

Kathmandu. The National Human Rights Commission and the committee formed to investigate the youth protests have pointed out the lack of necessary crowd control equipment among security agencies. The National Human Rights Commission stated in its 29-page brief report, published on Wednesday, that the police and armed police lack necessary crowd control equipment. The commission's report states, 'It is not possible to maintain peace and security solely by using systematic force due to the lack of equipment.' The commission has mentioned in its report that there is not enough budget to procure basic resources, helmets, batons, face shields, body armor, knee guards, tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, and pepper spray, which are essential for crowd control for security agencies including the police. The investigation commission led by Gauribahadur Karki, which submitted its report on February 16, 2025 (2082 BS Falgun 24), also pointed out the lack of sufficient equipment among security agencies. The investigation commission analyzed that protesters tend to overpower the police due to the lack and inadequacy of non-lethal materials such as shields, tear gas, and body gear. Suggesting to the government, the report states, 'Since lethal use will cause more damage, non-lethal materials should be managed sufficiently immediately.' The investigation commission had mentioned the need to remove two command structures when the police and armed police work together in the field. The report states, 'Nepal Police should be equipped with non-lethal materials within the Nepal Police by clearly defining the division of work in crowd control, and armed police and Nepal Police should be provided with separate weapons.' Concluding that the security lapse in Kathmandu's Baneshwor area on February 15-16, 2025 (2082 BS Bhadra 23 and 24) led to the deaths of teenagers, the Karki commission suggested deploying highly skilled personnel for crowd control. The Karki commission's report states, 'In the future, only officers who excel in marksmanship should be deployed for crowd control by conducting marksmanship competitions, and training should be provided by creating a crowd control curriculum.' As per the decision of the Council of Ministers, the Karki commission has formed a committee to study the implementation of the recommendations for action against the chiefs and commanders of security agencies. The committee is studying the matter. The National Human Rights Commission has also recommended taking action against the chiefs and field commanders of security agencies, similar to the Karki commission. The Human Rights Commission has recommended departmental action against Police Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki, Armed Police Inspector General Narayan Dutt Poudel, Police DIGs Om Rana and Bishwa Adhikari, Armed SP Jeevan KC, then Director of the National Investigation Department Krishna Khanal, Joint Secretary Chhabilal Regmi, and the field commanders deployed in Baneshwor on February 15, 2025 (2082 BS Bhadra 23) for human rights violations. The Karki commission had recommended criminal prosecution against then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, officials of the Central Security Committee, and then Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Chhabilal Regmi. The Council of Ministers has implemented the Karki commission's recommendations and registered a complaint against Oli and Lekhak with the police for investigation. The Human Rights Commission has recommended to the government that Chandra Kuber Khapung, who was the Inspector General of Police during the protests and has now retired, former Inspector General of Armed Police Raju Aryal, and former chief of the National Investigation Department Hutraj Thapa should not be given any government service responsibilities in the future and their records should be kept accordingly. Regarding them, the commission's report states, 'If there is a need to file a case according to Article 249, Sub-article 2(c) of the Constitution, file a case in court according to the law.'

• Commission Didn't Recognize DIG and AIG

The Human Rights Commission's report contains erroneous names for DIG and AIG. In Chapter 2, Section 2 of the recommendations, the name of Om Rana, who is working at the Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari, is mentioned as Om Bikram Rana by the commission. Om Bikram Rana is a former IGP of the police. Rana, against whom the commission has recommended departmental action, is currently the chief of the Sudurpashchim Province Police Office. The name of the then AIG of Armed Police and current IG Narayan Dutt Poudel is also mentioned incorrectly in the commission's recommendation. Poudel, who was the chief of the Operations Department during the youth protests, is mentioned as Narayan Prasad Poudel by the commission. Many have questioned why the name of the IG, who commands approximately 37,000 troops, is erroneous in the report prepared by Undersecretary Manju Khatiwada and certified by Secretary Murariprasad Kharel. The 29-page brief report has been criticized for being prepared carelessly due to the errors found.

• Army's Weakness Pointed Out, But Lenient on Action

The Human Rights Commission has pointed out the army's weakness in the youth protests, but while suggesting departmental action against the chiefs of other security agencies and even filing cases against former chiefs, the commission appears lenient towards the army. Chief of Army Staff Ashokraj Sigdel did not appear before the commission to give a statement. The commission's report mentions that the Chief District Officer of Kathmandu had sought the army's assistance after the protest on February 15, 2025 (2082 BS Bhadra 23) became violent and went out of control, but the army did not provide assistance in practice. The report states, 'The Army Chief submitted a written statement; as the army did not provide timely statements or appear for statements, the commission could not receive the expected cooperation from the army.' The commission noted that the army has not provided a clear answer as to under what decision it was mobilized from 10 PM on February 16, 2025 (2082 BS Bhadra 24), despite 76 deaths nationwide in the protests, and the army was not mobilized on February 15, 2025 (2082 BS Bhadra 23). The commission has suggested warning the then commanders of the units inside Singha Durbar and the then commanders of Shital Niwas. The commission is silent on taking action against other army officials. The commission has suggested to the government that the Chief of Army Staff should be instructed to be serious about such matters in the future and prioritize the responsibility of protecting national property and the human rights of ordinary citizens. The commission's conclusion is that the army's weakness was evident during the vandalism of Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court, and the President's residence, and the loss of life and property across the country. The report states, 'It appears that the army has not been able to protect national property as expected by the public and has not been sensitive to the protection of citizens' human rights.' The commission's conclusion is that the government and security agencies had weak preparations despite receiving intelligence that the protests could become violent. The commission has mentioned in its report that there were shortcomings in coordination and communication among the security groups in the Parliament building. The commission has described the National Investigation Department as 'inactive and ineffective,' noting that it failed to collect sufficient information regarding the events of February 15-16, 2025 (2082 BS Bhadra 23 and 24). The commission's conclusion is that the then Home Minister, security chiefs, and field commanders were responsible for human rights violations.