Maximum restraint maintained to control Tinkune violence: Police HQ

‘58 shots and 746 tear gas cells fired, 20 persons got accidently shot’.

Kathmandu, Apr. 3: The Nepal Police Headquarters has asserted that they exercised restraint while controlling violent activities during the pro-royalist protest at Tinkune, Kathmandu on March 28.

During a press conference held at the Police Headquarters on Wednesday, Central Police Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General Dinesh Kumar Acharya said that allegations of the police attempting to disrupt the event were completely baseless. 

He emphasised that their efforts were focused on curbing anarchic and criminal activities.

According to DIG Acharya, as unruly activities escalated, the first gunshot was fired at 2:54 pm to bring the situation under control.

He further disclosed that at 3:05 pm on Friday, an attempt was made to set fire to a vehicle near the Narcotics Control Bureau Office, and subsequently, efforts were made to burn the individuals inside the vehicle. Even plainclothes police officers were reportedly targeted in arson attempts.

Meanwhile, acts of vandalism had begun at the Bhatbhateni Supermarket in Koteshwor. As protestors started looting a police van which was delivering lunch boxes to on-duty police officers and launched attacks on them, another gunshot was fired at 3:09 pm to regain control of the situation.

During the chaos, Sabin Maharjan from Kirtipur sustained injuries and later died. "With simultaneous attacks at Tinkune, the Narcotics Control Bureau Office, Koteshwor, and Jadibuti, police had no choice but to intervene to prevent further violence," Acharya claimed. 

The disorder reportedly intensified when the movement’s so-called leader, Durga Prasai, attempted to advance from Bhaktapur to Koteshwor and then Tinkune around 1:15 pm. According to DIG Acharya, after some individuals on stage expressed intentions to seize the Parliament building and the airport, the crowd turned more aggressive, prompting the first use of force at 1:23 pm.

The first arson incident at a house in Tinkune prevented police intervention initially. "Only by using tear gas and water cannons at around 2:15 pm were officers able to reach the scene," Acharya said.

Between 3:45 and 4:00 pm, an attack took place at Tribhuvan International Airport’s parking area, which was later brought under control.

At 4:12 pm, arson broke out in front of KMC Hospital. To safeguard sensitive areas, the District Administration Office issued the first curfew 

order at 4:25 pm.

Despite this, the situation remained volatile. Acharya revealed that even after the curfew order, a vehicle of Rastriya Swantantra Party lawmaker was torched in Balkumari, and the Unified Socialist Party’s office was set on fire.

At 5:33 pm, police stations in Narephat and Koteshwor were attacked. Between 6:09 and 6:12 pm, a police motorcycle was set ablaze in Sinamangal. "The police made multiple efforts to control these criminal activities," Acharya affirmed.

Rebika shot accidentally 

Meanwhile, Nepal Police have claimed that the shooting of student Rebika Khatri and her brother (Dinesh) during Friday’s royalist protest was accidental.

At the press conference, DIG Acharya clarified that the bullet that hit Rebika and her brother was fired during police efforts to suppress looting at Bhatbhateni Supermarket at around 5:00 pm.

"As looting erupted, a nearby vehicle was also set on fire. In the course of controlling the situation, a bullet may have struck them," he explained.

Police deny teargas attack during national anthem

The Nepal Police have refuted allegations that they fired tear gas while the national anthem was being played at the stage of the royalist protesters. 

At the press conference, police headquarters claimed that the viral footage showing such an incident was a deepfake. Acharya suggested that tear gas fired in a different location might have drifted toward the stage because of the wrong target or wrong angle.

He elaborated that, "The police did not use unnecessary force. The claim that tear gas was fired while the national anthem was playing is false—it is a deepfake video. The event had not even officially begun, so how could the anthem be playing?"

"There is no footage showing the programme had started when the tear gas was discharged. The gas may have reached that location incidentally. In chaotic situations, tear gas cell can take an unexpected course. The police were not in a comfortable position, and sometimes, angles (targets) can be misleading in such hurried circumstances."

Police confirm 20 gunshot victims 

The Nepal Police have confirmed that 20 individuals sustained bullet injuries during the royalist protest on March 28.

During the press conference, DIG Acharya reported that the victims included 18 men and two women, with 13 still undergoing treatment in different hospitals.

He further said that a total of 58 rounds of bullets were fired during the protest, along with 746 rounds of tear gas and 192 blank fires. Additionally, two bullets were fired from a pistol.

Meanwhile, 55 Nepal Police and 23 Armed Police Force personnel were injured due to attacks by protestors. Conversely, 53 protestors were injured due to police action.

'We will arrest Prasai soon'

Spokesperson Acharya also claimed that Durga Prasai, regarded as the central figure behind the protest, will be apprehended soon. "We are still under investigation about his whereabouts," said DIG Acharya. Prasai could not be taken into control when he was inside the big mass of protestors since he took to the street with his supporters, said police.