KATHMANDU, Feb 12: The assault on two on-duty police personnel by a group of drunk leaders of the student wing of the ruling party CPN (UML) has drawn widespread ire from political leaders and the general public alike after the police opted not to pursue charges against the leader of the assailant group.
The incident has wriggled its way to the parliament as leaders questioned the government’s motive behind safeguarding the student goon leaders simply because they are affiliated to the ruling party. Lawmakers, including Gyanendra Shahi, Manish Jha and Sumana Shrestha have expressed their dissatisfaction over the handling of the incident.
Since a video footage of the incident has also gone viral on social media platforms, the general public has started expressing ire over the apparent pressure exerted by the ruling party to protect its ‘glorified goon’ student leaders.
Experts have called the move as an impediment to not just the police organization but the entire civil service as it sets the example that cadres of political parties can get away scot free even after committing such offense.
Here is Republica’s explainer of the incident and the reactions that ensued:
The incident
On Thursday, a group of six student leaders led by Kamal Raj Joshi, a standing committee member of the All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU), assaulted two police personnel on duty at the Keshar Mahal post in Durbar Marg.
In a video that has gone viral since the incident took place, police constable Jagulal Chaudhary and officer Nagendra Raj Bista from a Quick Response Team (QRT) were seen being assaulted while they were on duty.
The goon student leaders are seen becoming even more aggressive after the police duo tried to reason with them. The assailants knocked over two police motorcycles and even struck the vehicles with a stick. In the video footage, Joshi is seen pointing his finger at the police, warning them.
KAMAL RAJ JOSHI (from his Facebook)
On Sunday, the police arrested 26-year-old Dinesh Sigdel from Phungling Municipality-1, Taplejung, and 22-year-old Ramesh Phulara from Ganayapdhura Rural Municipality-5, Dadeldhura, on charges of assaulting officers. Both are students at Amrit Science Campus and are affiliated with ANNFSU.
Three others-Nabin Airee, Saujanya Shahi, and Gopal Bahadur Shahi remain at large despite arrest warrants being issued against them.
However, the police have opted not to pursue any action against student leader Joshi.
Protectors are not protected
Experts in the security field have called out the apparent political protection for the assailant group as a threat to the work culture in not just the police organization but the entire civil service fraternity.
Criticizing the political intervention at all levels of bureaucracy, former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police Hemant Malla told Republica that if a proper investigation is not conducted against the assailant group including Joshi, civil servants will be scared to even carry out their basic duties.
Former DIG Hemant Malla (from his Facebook)
“It is the duty of the police, as a public body, to carry out at least an investigation into the case,” former DIG Malla remarked, “If the ones that are supposed to protect others are not protected, how will other civil servants find the morale to carry out their jobs?”
He added that the politicians from the ruling party and the police leadership at different levels themselves need to reflect on the example that the incident sets for future cases.
Lawmakers vent ire
The House of Representative meeting on Tuesday witnessed a heated atmosphere as multiple lawmakers questioned the government’s motive in protecting ‘goon student leaders’.
Speaking in the House of Representatives meeting, MP from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Gyanendra Shahi demanded action against the assailant group.
“There are 79,501 police personnel in this country and the government has done the job of bowing down the heads of those policemen,” he said, “Has the Oli government given permission to beat up people wearing police uniforms on the streets?”
He said that the atrocities of the state have increased and sarcastically suggested that a law be made that allows rape, looting and exemption for cadres of the UML government.
Similarly, MP from Rastriya Swantantra Party (RSP) Manish Jha spoke to a group of reporters after the Parliament meeting and warned the ruling parties that the increasing public ire might result in a great protest on the streets.
“Your (ruling party) cadres assault police personnel, and you seek to control reactions (on social media),” he said, “What if these frustrations pile up and the public pour them on the streets?”
Meanwhile, RSP lawmaker Sumana Shrestha took to social media on Monday to draw the contrast between the government’s treatment of social campaigner Ashika Tamang and the assailant group leader Joshi.
“Assault and get released. Perhaps, Ashika Tamang did not assault the police?” Shrestha’s secretariat posted on Facebook.
Police’s duplicity: no action against Joshi but tall talk of ‘no immunity’
The Chief of the District Police Range (DPR), Kathmandu, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bishwa Adhikari clarified at a press conference on Tuesday that anyone involved in assaulting police officers will not receive immunity.
SSP BISHWA ADHIKARI
During a press conference at the DPR office on Tuesday, journalists questioned SSP Adhikari about Joshi evading police action allegedly due to his political affiliation.
"We have no affiliation with any party," SSP Adhikari replied.
He stated that the police have launched an investigation against the five individuals involved in the incident and will take "1000% action" if further involvement is discovered.
However, the count of the assailants itself is a questionable statement from the police. The police issued arrest warrants for the five individuals involved in the incident, but Joshi was granted immunity.
This has raised concerns about potential political pressure on the police.
SSP Adhikari had previously claimed that Joshi did not face any charges as he had been seen attempting to disperse the fight rather than involve in it. However, the now viral video footage clearly shows his involvement in the assault.