Kathmandu, September 10:

The Ward Police office recently took two policemen into custody and took departmental action against them for their involvement in police brutality. According to the Valley Police Office (VPO), the police office demoted a head constable and a sub-inspector by one rank each as they were found to have terrorised hoteliers in Sundhara area. The VPO, however, declined to disclose their names. Both the errant cops were posted at the Janasewa Ward Police Office.

“The two police personnel drank at Ananda Guest House in Sundhara and terrorised the staff and other hoteliers of the area, threatening to haul them off to the police station. They even pointed pistols at the hoteliers,” a police official at the VPO said. In this context, the Janasewa Ward Police Office (JWPO) today organised an interaction with owners of hotels, lodges and restaurants to smoothen things. Inspector Dinesh Mainali, officer-in-charge of the JWPO, asked all hoteliers to down shutters by 10 pm so as to create a conducive environment for security personnel to maintain security in the area. “We can consider special circumstances when your guests return late in the night,” he said.

To the 59 hoteliers present at the function, Mainali extended an assurance of providing security within minutes in times of need. “However, you must must inform us on time if anything goes wrong,” he said. Mainali also asked them to keep an adequate number of security guards at hotels, guest houses and restaurants. “If not possible, you can share among three to five of them,” he added. Hoteliers complained to Mainali of harassment at the hands of police personnel. They also promised to assist police officials in maintaining law and order and said they would not hesitate to inform about suspicious persons or activities inside and outside their hotels. About 200 unstarred hotels, guest houses and restaurants are estimated to be running in the Janasewa area, police said.