KATHMANDU, Feb 19: Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka and Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha had a verbal argument on 'Investigation Report of Balkumari Incident'.

There was a heated exchange between the two ministers in the cabinet meeting held on Sunday evening. A source at the Council of Ministers informed Republica that the argument between the two ministers started after Defense Minister Khadka told Home Minister Shrestha that all the ministers should be able to see the report on the Balkumari incident.

"The defense minister said that we should all get to read the report. The home minister replied that he had already submitted it to the prime minister and everyone else need not read it, which fueled the argument," said a ministerial source.

According to the source, Minister Khadka had demanded to read the report saying that ‘such an incident can occur with everyone, hence everyone should be informed about it’, but the home minister kept brushing it off.

The commission formed by the government to investigate the truth about the Balkumari incident submitted its report to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha last Friday. While receiving the report, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha promised to implement the conclusions drawn by the Commission after examining the facts.

In the report, it has been concluded that Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala was also responsible for the incident. Based on that conclusion, opposition parties including the main opposition party CPN-UML demanded immediate dismissal of Minister Jwala in the House of Representatives on Sunday.

Birendra Shah of Chaurpati, Achham and Sujan Rawat of Mahabu, Dailekh were killed during a protest at the EPS Korea branch office at Balkumari, Lalitpur on the issue of filling the examination form on December 29.

The Government of Nepal (Council of Ministers) formed an inquiry commission on January 1 to investigate the incident and submit a report with opinions, suggestions and recommendations within one month.

The commission, led by former High Court Judge Shekhar Prasad Paudel as Chairman, along with former Additional Inspector General of Police Arun Kumar BC and Home Ministry Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Narayan Prasad Bhattarai as members, commenced its operations on January 5 and submitted the report in 44 days after adding 15 days.

In the press release issued by the chairman of the commission, Paudel, it is stated that the commission inspected the scene of the incident, documented the statements of 16 people including eyewitnesses, media persons, families of the victims, injured of the incident, expert doctors and other people related to the incident, and 29 people including officials of the security agencies related to the incident and others. 

Reports were obtained from various sources including EPS Korea Branch Balkumari, District Administration Office Lalitpur, District Police Range Lalitpur, Armed Police Force Nepal Battalion No. 21 Dakshinkali Lalitpur, National Investigation Department, and District Administration Office Lalitpur. Additionally, a test report of physical evidence recovered from the scene and an autopsy report were prepared.

Furthermore, details of police communications and CCTV footage were acquired from the operational room of the Valley Police Office and Police Headquarters Naxal. CCTV footage from the vicinity of the incident site was also collected. Moreover, the information received via email by the Commission was meticulously reviewed and analyzed as part of the investigation process.

The Commission thanked all those who assisted in the investigation of the incident.

 
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