KATHMANDU, July 28: Nepal’s Home Ministry has reshuffled key security officials in Sunsari following Sunday’s deadly violence in Dewangunj on Sunday, as it emerged that the district’s top police commanders and the provincial police chief were absent when the clashes broke out.
According to sources, Sunsari Police Chief (SP) Keshav Thebe was on leave at the time of the incident. Armed Police Force (APF) Sunsari Chief SP Shyam Kumar Karki had already left for the APF headquarters a few days earlier, while Koshi Province Police Chief DIG Binod Ghimire was also on leave. Their absence has raised questions about the district’s security preparedness and crisis response.
In the aftermath of the violence, the Home Ministry recalled Chief District Officer (CDO) Basudev Ghimire to the ministry and appointed Sankhuwasabha CDO Ishwari Prasad Aryal as his replacement.
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The ministry also transferred DIG Binod Ghimire to the Nepal Police Headquarters and assigned DIG Shekhar Khanal, who had been serving at the headquarters, to lead the Koshi Province Police Office.
Similarly, SP Keshav Thebe has been transferred to Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, while SP Pushparaj Malla, previously posted at the airport, has been assigned to Sunsari.
The APF has also reshuffled its leadership. SP Shyam Kumar Karki has been recalled to headquarters and replaced by SP Lav Kumar Sapkota. In addition, DSP Nand Kishor Mahato of APF Kaptainganj has been transferred to headquarters, with DSP Madannath taking over his position.
The violence erupted on Sunday night in Kaptainganj, Dewangunj Rural Municipality-3, where clashes between two groups left one person dead and 24 others injured, including nine civilians, 10 Nepal Police personnel, and five APF personnel.
To investigate the incident, the Home Ministry has formed a five-member probe committee led by Joint Secretary Bhupendra Thapa, which has been given one week to submit its report.
Meanwhile, the District Administration Office, Sunsari, has imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of Devanaganj and Harinagar rural municipalities from 7 a.m. Monday, aiming to prevent further unrest.
