Police claims in its letter the suspicious role IGP Chandra Kuber Khapung and AIG Dan Bahadur Karki, while SSP Bishwo Adhikari repeated the order of shooting six times
Kathmandu, October 10
All victim police personnel of all ranks in Kathmandu valley who submitted testimony immediately have demanded that those involved in suspicious activities be suspended and that legal action be taken, in a five-page application to the High-Level Investigation Commission on October 5 regarding the incidents of September 8 and 9.
As per the testimony, during curfew, top security officials either abandoned their posts or acted suspiciously. Notably, AIG Dan Bahadur Karki, who had recently been appointed valley chief, left his office, and ordered the release of detainees and allowed police to surrender via radio. Police Chief Chandra Kuber Khapung and APF Chief Raju Aryal were allegedly present at Nepali Army Headquarters throughout the crisis, raising questions about their roles and the neutrality of the security response.
The letter claims that police shot dozens of Gen Z youth from the government side on September 8 - the first day of the Gen Z movement - resulting in human casualties.
Following the decision of the Cabinet meeting on the night of September 8, the responsibility was given to Nepal Police's AIG Karki on the morning of September 9 for command, control, peace and security of the three districts – Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. As per the government's decision, he took charge of the office at Ranipokhari, Kathmandu on September 9 at 7:00am.
SUSPICIOUS ROLE OF POLICE CHIEFS
Gen Z began to emerge on the streets on September 9 at 9:00am, according to the letter. The focal point of the day's movement was the New Baneshwor area where the Parliament building is located. From 7:00am, there was a dense deployment of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police in Baneshwor and almost everywhere. At 11:00am, when Gen Z attacked the Parliament building at Baneshwor, the deployed security personnel did not react, and allowed arson and vandalism.
"As a result, the protesters' morale soared, and they concentrated their efforts on arson, attacks and looting in prime institutions such as the Supreme Court and the main administrative building, Singha Durbar, as well as personal attacks and robbery," the letter states. "The reality is that the state had to bear such a loss as a result of a personal feud between Army Chief Ashokraj Sigdel and prime minister KP Oli, and this cannot be hidden from anyone. It is also clear from the fact that Police Chief Chandra Kuber Khapung and Armed Police Chief Raju Aryal were both at Nepali Army Headquarters on September 9, whether for their own security or because the army detained them, as time will tell."
The letter continues, "On September 9, Nepal Police IGP Khapung was not at Police Headquarters in Naxal. AIG Karki, who was recently assigned to maintain peace and security in the valley, fled Ranipokhari before the protesters arrived and went to Army Headquarters in Bhadrakali. As a result, the public were able to get their hands on over 1,500 weapons, including long-range rifles such as the INSAS, SMG and SLR, as well as short-range pistols, revolvers, gas guns and over 90,000 rounds of ammunition."
"The primary perpetrators of these incidents are AIG Karki and Police IGP Khapung. The order to release detainees and hand over weapons was given by AIG Karki, presumably on direct orders from IGP Khapung," the victim group of police claimed in the letter.
"Also, the commission should be aware that the largest number of weapons in Kathmandu valley were looted from the office of AIG Karki at Ranipokhari. The fact that even when the Supreme Court requested police deployment, none was sent, indicating serious intent and selfishness on the part of AIGP Karki. The situation in the country, including Kathmandu valley, worsened, and after prime minister Oli resigned, Karki became even more emboldened. Claiming himself as the next Nepal Police chief and making efforts through then-Kathmandu CDO Chhabilal Rijal and home secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi to release Rabi Lamichhane from Nakkhu prison for the purpose of a future appointment as prime minister is proof of his intent."
The letter has called the role of AIG Dan Bahadur Karki suspicious, stating that after releasing Lamichhane from prison, aspiring to become prime minister and IGP himself, problematic assumptions created great loss for the police and the country. "Main administrative buildings such as Singha Durbar, the Parliament building, and the Supreme Court - symbols of trust, faith and justice of Nepali citizens - were turned to ashes. Those who gave direct orders to release detainees, made police surrender, failed to maintain the chain of command, abandoned office during duty, handed over weapons and overall weakened the morale of the police organisation, neglected security of important institutions like Singha Durbar and the Supreme Court, and held phone conversations with DP Aryal to encourage a jailbreak must be investigated and prosecuted for looting weapons and inciting a jailbreak."
The victim group has claimed Police Chief Khapung, AIG Karki and all security officials responsible for events on September 8 and 9, including then-Kathmandu police chief SSP Bishwo Adhikari, should be immediately suspended and prosecuted according to relevant laws so they cannot destroy evidence against themselves.
SHOOT OR BE PUNISHED ORDER
The letter claims that on the first day of the Gen Z movement, there was no leader in charge of the security of the three districts in Kathmandu valley. DIG Om Rana, who was acknowledged as having a controversial background and a lack of command and control, took temporary command after former AIG Tek Bahadur Tamang retired. Consequently, valley police SSP Deep Shamsher JBR assumed command of the operations.
"The Kathmandu police team had anticipated a simple protest but were alarmed when DSP Eliza Giri said on the radio, "Police killed, and attempted to kill us." Protesters had already broken through the security perimeter and entered the Parliament. Shortly after, then-Kathmandu Police chief SSP Bishwo Adhikari issued the order to fire, repeating it six times and saying, 'Shoot immediately; if you don't shoot, the field commander will be punished,' reads the letter. "Following this, Operation Commander SSP Deep Shamsher JB Rana also shouted on the radio, 'Shoot immediately; do not let people enter the Parliament.' Under extreme pressure, field police responded violently, and within moments dozens of youths lost their lives.
Following the brutal shooting of young student activists, the entire country rose in protest. Home minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned under pressure, citing moral responsibility. That night, the National Security Committee met, and, because the valley police leadership was vacant, IGP Khapung proposed appointing an AIG for Kathmandu valley, resulting in the appointment of AIG Karki as valley chief.
"On the morning of September 9, while the Supreme Court, Singha Durbar, Parliament building, prime minister's residence, police offices and commercial buildings were being destroyed, AIG Karki forbade firing and ordered the release of detainees," states the letter. "The radio order said, 'Under no circumstances should you shoot or use force,' and the commander AIG himself entered Nepali Army Headquarters. Later, the detainees were released; they (the protesters) set fire to our office, killed our officers, and stole weapons. Why did IGP Khapung and AIG Karki stand by and watch as police were forced to surrender and assaulted with rocks? This requires investigation."
