KATHMANDU, JANUARY 19

Almost five months after Sajil Man Shakya was electrocuted in the pool of a hotel, District Police Range, Lalitpur, has issued an arrest warrant for the owners of the Square Hotel in Pulchowk. As per the arrest warrant, they will be sent to custody within two days.

Talking to THT, Spokesperson for District Police Range Lalitpur SP Navaraj Karki said, 'The owners are in India for treatment. They have promised to surrender as soon as they return to Nepal.' He further said, 'The mother-in-law Lalita Bhandari Devkota and her daughter-in-law Romi Aryal own the hotel. We got in touch with them. They have promised to turn themselves in as soon as they arrive in Nepal.'

'Earlier, we could not arrest them because the case did not fall under our jurisdiction.'

However, Sajil's brother Vivek Shakya told THT that police did not file a complaint due to external pressure or the hotel's influence. 'This is a mockery of our fundamental right.'

He further said, 'Our attorneys advised us that police ought to have filed a complaint.'

Sajil Man Shakya, a resident of Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, has been unconscious for the past five months, according to Vivek. On September 1, he suffered electrocution in the pool of the Square Hotel while swimming.

'Medical equipment was installed at Sajil's home for his treatment after Tihar,' he stated. 'A nurse has been hired to take care of him 24 hours a day. He is seen by doctors on a regular basis,' he added.

However, there has been no significant improvement in his health. He just moves his pupils when something goes around him. 'The doctor advised us to take Sajil home because he is in a coma. He has been under health care since the incident. No assistance has been provided by the hotel owners thus far,' he said.

Sajil, a 41-year-old businessman, went to Hotel Square with his spouse and two-and-a-half-year-old daughter on September 1, 2023.

'At approximately 3:00 pm that day, he went swimming in the hotel's pool. While swimming, he also snapped pictures of his wife and daughter. His hand landed on one of the three focus lights near the swimming pool shortly before being electrocuted,' said Vivek. Vivek claimed that while Sajil was still in the pool, his hand happened to come into contact with one of the focus lights which appeared to be leaking electric current. Sajil remained motionless and mute for some time after being electrocuted. According to Vivek, Sajil was electrocuted for 20 to 25 seconds, and when his wife attempted to remove him from the pool, she too got an electric shock.

Following the incident, Sajil was rushed to Nepal Mediciti Hospital. 'The hospital reported that Sajil had also experienced a heart attack. Later, Sajil was brought to Maitighar-based Annapurna Neuro Hospital,' Vivek shared.

'Sajil's condition did not improve despite being treated in two hospitals,' Vivek said. 'He is now receiving treatment at home. He is opening his eyes, and his condition is improving.' Sajil's family had gone to the District Police Range, Lalitpur, to lodge a complaint of attempted murder against the hotel owners. They asserted that the hotel's negligence in repairing the leakage of electricity was the reason behind Sajil's unconsciousness.

'But police did not register the complaint on time. Only after the complaint was submitted via a government attorney did the process proceed,' Vivek claimed.

He further said, 'The complaint has now been filed against the hotel owners. They should face legal consequences for their actions. Either the hotel's problems need to be resolved, or it should be closed after we get compensation.'

Meanwhile, the residents of Pulchowk organized a protest on Sunday in front of Hotel Square, calling for the hotel's owners to be held accountable.

Superintendent of Police Navaraj Karki, however, stated that they had recommended that the victim's family file a lawsuit because they had requested compensation.

'We had suggested to the victim's family that it was a matter to take to the court not the police office as the family has sought compensation,' he said. 'They subsequently used a government attorney to file the complaint. We have already registered it,' he added.