Suspicious Parking Case: Police Impound Car Near Congress Leader's House

Kathmandu. Traffic police have issued tickets and handed over vehicles that were suspiciously parked at the gates of media houses. Although four vehicles were handed over to their drivers on Monday evening, the car parked in front of Congress President Gagan Thapa's house has not yet been handed over by the police.

Congress supporters went to the Metropolitan Traffic Police Office in Ramshahpath on Monday evening and demanded an investigation into the vehicles. After summoning the vehicle owner and demanding clarification on why the car was left in a derelict state, the BAC 9575 number car parked at the gate of Thapa's house is now kept at the Traffic Police Office.

The number of the car, which was removed using a crane, is embossed. It was found that the embossed number was installed after changing the old number Ba.20 Cha 6564.

The car was found to be registered in the name of Kumar Prasad Aryal, a resident of Kathmandu, under Baba Bishwakarma Traders. On Tuesday morning, the driver also arrived at the Traffic Police Office to pick up the car. Refusing to provide his details to the Traffic Police Office, he said, 'I am here for another job. If you give me the car, I will take it, otherwise, it's fine.'

Following questions raised by Congress supporters, the car is still parked at the Traffic Police Office. An official from the Metropolitan Traffic Police Office told Ratopati that four vehicles parked unauthorizedly were ticketed and released, but one car is in the process of being handed over. The official said, 'We are having trouble handing over the Duster car that was picked up from in front of Gagan Thapa's house.'

Vehicles parked in front of Kantipur Publication, Online Khabar, Himalaya Television, and Bhatbhateni Super Market were ticketed and handed over to their respective owners. The Metropolitan Traffic Police Office has not investigated why they were parked unauthorizedly.

Unauthorizedly parked vehicles have been fined between Rs 500 and Rs 1500 under Section 164 of the Transport Management Act 2049 and released. SSP Suresh Kafle of the Metropolitan Traffic Police Office stated that they were fined and released for the offense of parking vehicles in public places in a manner that obstructs others.

When asked why the reason for unauthorized parking was not investigated, Kafle said, 'Investigating is not our jurisdiction; the Kathmandu Police might be doing that.'

Organizations including the Federation of Nepali Journalists have demanded an investigation into the incident of suspicious vehicle parking at the gates of media houses. SP Pawan Bhattarai of the District Police Range Kathmandu stated that initial investigations have not revealed any security threat. He said, 'Since there was no security issue, we asked the Metropolitan Traffic Police to take action.'

• Single Group Operating

It is suspected that the vehicles parked unauthorizedly at the gates of media houses were operated by a single group. According to police sources, some vehicles were parked unauthorizedly after being summoned from a car rental company. It is suspected that those close to the ruling party were leading the operation of the vehicles. According to police sources, a person named Niroj Khadka led the unauthorized parking. Security officials have refused to disclose Khadka's full details.

Officials at the Metropolitan Traffic Police Office had issued tickets to these vehicles by checking the drivers' licenses without even looking at the vehicle's blue book. A traffic police official told Ratopati that the background of the vehicle owners was also not checked.

The Hyundai Creta car, registration number Bagmati Province-01-033 Cha 4275, which was parked unauthorizedly at Bhatbhateni Super Market, was claimed by Nirajan Parajuli. His background is not known.

The car, registration number Ba 12 Cha 8545, parked at the gate of Online Khabar, was found to be registered in the name of Sunil Poudel. Poudel operates an eye clinic in Bhagawati Sthan, Gokarneshwor Municipality-9, Kathmandu.

The jeep, registration number Bagmati Province-01-034 Cha 8480, parked at Kantipur Publication, was found to be registered in the name of Sanima Bank. Ravi Jaiswal had purchased the vehicle through ST Motors with a loan from the bank. Jaiswal is the son of Kantamani Prasad Jaiswal, the mayor of Garuda Municipality in Rautahat.

The car, registration number Ba 10 Cha 1255, which was parked and left at the gate of Himalaya Television, is registered in the name of DR Auto Motives located in Dhumbarahi, according to the Department of Transport Management records.