KATHMANDU, March 30: A statewide manhunt has been initiated for Durga Prasai, the commander of the pro-monarchy procession in Tinkune on Friday which caused the death of two people and left scores injured.
Prasai, who fled the scene following the unrest, has been in hiding, and the authorities have heightened measures to apprehend him. As many as 17 individuals have already been arrested following the violence, including political figures and suspected allies of Prasai.
The government first arrested several major political leaders from the Rastriya Prajantra Party (RPP) who were involved in the protest. The arrestees included Senior Vice Chairman of RPP Rabindra Mishra, General Secretary of RPP Dr. Dhawal Shamsher JBR and activist Swagat Nepal.
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Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shekhar Khanal at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office informed Republica that all of these arrests were part of ongoing investigations into the situation surrounding the protest.
On Saturday, police intensified their efforts as they detained Munindra Rajbhandari, a commander of the Royal Task Force (RTF), a network allegedly established by Prasai. Rajbhandari was taken into custody in the Balaju area of Kathmandu. Rajbhandari was among the protesters at Tinkune and has been charged with the violence there. Previously, he had posted on Facebook accusing the government of murdering the journalist, further escalating the tensions.
Despite these significant arrests, the elusive Prasai remains the primary target of the police. He has evaded capture by going off the grid, switching off his mobile phone and severing contact with authorities. Prasai’s last known communication with the police came via social media, where he claimed he would respond when called by the authorities. However, his subsequent disappearance has raised concerns about his whereabouts.
In a significant move, the police have arrested Prasai’s alleged religious leader Puskar Khatiwada from Imadol, Lalitpur. Khatiwada was involved in the violent Tinkune protest and is accused of sheltering Prasai at his house on Friday night. Multiple video footage has surfaced on social media where Khatiwada is seen pelting stones at the security personnel during the protest. Police are now questioning his role and if he had been harboring Prasai overnight after the violence.
A top police official confirmed to Republica that the Special Bureau of Police has also been deployed to search and arrest Prasai. The Special Bureau is working with the District Police Range, Kathmandu, and the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office. The second team is concentrating their search in Lalitpur, where the authorities suspect Prasai is hiding. They have also placed a YouTuber who was with Prasai during the protest under surveillance in the hopes that this lead can bring them to Prasai.
Prasai has been charged by the police with serious crimes, including inciting violence and murder. The police are also preparing to charge him with murder based on the events that transpired during the protest.
In a related action, Panchayat-era leader Navaraj Subedi, coordinator of the Joint People's Movement Committee, was placed under house arrest. He was arrested while the government was already continuing its crackdown on people who are associated with the protest and with the immediate situation around it.