ITAHARI, Aug 19: A government investigation committee has concluded that police fired the bullets that killed three people during the violent clash in Kaptanganj, Sunsari, ruling out earlier speculation that the victims may have been shot by an outside group or infiltrators.
The committee led by Bhupendra Thapa, joint secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, submitted its report to the ministry on Tuesday. After interviewing those involved and examining the incident in detail, the committee found no evidence of the involvement of any outside group or infiltrators.
According to a committee member, the police team deployed to control a clash between two groups in Kaptanganj of Dewanganj Rural Municipality-3 on August 10 was forced to open fire after the situation became life-threatening.
The report states that the police opened fire to protect themselves and prevent further loss of life after the clash created a situation in which police personnel and members of another minority community were at risk of being killed.
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“The investigation found that the police fired in self-defense and to prevent further loss of life,” the committee member told Republica over the phone.
The investigation found that a total of 20 rounds were fired by the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force in Kaptanganj. Three locals—Om Prakash Mehta, Jay Prakash Mehta and Rabindra Mehta—were killed by bullets fired by the security personnel.
Om Prakash died on the night of the incident, July 10. Jay Prakash died during treatment on July 30 while Rabindra died during treatment in Kathmandu on August 4. Three other people injured in the incident are still receiving treatment, while three have been discharged from hospitals.
Inspector Rakesh Rai of the Area Police Office, Dewanganj, and Assistant Sub-Inspector Prakash Kumar Shrestha of the Kaptanganj Police Post were deployed to control the clash.
According to committee coordinator Thapa, the report contains 25 recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. It also identifies the causes of the incident, outlines precautions to be taken in the future and recommends action against those involved.
Rama Acharya (Subedi), information officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the ministry would study the findings and recommendations before taking steps to implement them.
The Kaptanganj incident stemmed from a dispute over the installation of flags in the area. A flag had been installed in the middle of the market on June 28 during the Muslim community’s Muharram festival. Hindus later installed a flag at the same location during the Bol Bam festival in July. The dispute eventually reached the ward chairperson and rural municipality chairperson.
The situation turned violent on July 26 when two groups of youths clashed over the loud playing of DJ music at a temple in Dewanganj-3 by youths heading to participate in Bol Bam activities.
Meanwhile, a person was also killed in Siraha during protests against the Kaptanganj incident. Ganesh Yadav was killed after being hit by a bullet fired by police. A separate committee led by Home Ministry Joint Secretary Pushparaj Shahi investigated the Siraha incident and has submitted a separate report.
