KATHMANDU, Sept 6: Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have seen widespread criticism regarding the involvement of Koshi Province’s Finance and Planning Minister, Ram Bahadur Magar, in a hit-and-run incident that occurred in Lalitpur.
The incident took place around 7:15 AM on Saturday near Harisiddhi Secondary School, Lalitpur Metropolitan City-28. A government vehicle (registration number: Ko 1 Jha 699), in which Minister Magar was traveling, struck an 11-year-old girl who was attempting to cross the road.
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CCTV footage shows the girl trying to cross just ahead of a zebra crossing when the vehicle hits her. The impact knocked her to the ground. However, the vehicle simply overtakes the fallen girl and continued without stopping, while a woman on a motorcycle behind the car stopped to assist the girl.
Lalitpur Police confirmed the presence of Minister Magar in the vehicle at the time. According to SP Chakraraj Joshi, the injured girl, identified as Usha Magar Sunuwar, was taken to B&B Hospital for treatment. She did not sustain serious injuries and has since been discharged.
The vehicle was reportedly en route to Godawari, where the CPN-UML’s Second Statute Convention was being held. Following the incident, party chair KP Sharma Oli described it as a "normal" occurrence and stated that it should not be overly politicized. The party also announced that it would cover all medical expenses for the injured girl.
The incident has prompted discussions on social media concerning the question of moral responsibility. Despite recent restrictions on unregistered social media platforms, users have shared the incident widely using available networks and VPNs. The hashtag #EnoughIsEnough has been used in numerous posts.
