Maintain Law And Order

During the two-day protest of Gen-Z, the law and order situation deteriorated to the extent that total anarchy ruled the roost in the Kathmandu Valley and other major cities of the country. The incidents of vandalism, violence and arson spread like a wildfire. When a fierce movement and revolution sweeps the nation, it is not only the government but also the state that becomes dysfunctional, unable to deliver basic security to the citizens. The breakdown of law and order provides an opportunity for individuals with ill intentions to destroy public and private property. This was what happened during the Gen-Z protest. The buildings of Singha Durbar, the Parliament, and the Supreme Court were reduced to ashes in no time. The Gen-Z group has said that they were for a peaceful movement and had no motive to destroy public property on such a scale.

Vandals, looters, arsonists and prisoners took undue advantage of the lawlessness. Even the high-profile prisoners like Top Bahadur Raymajhi and Teknarayan Pandey have escaped from the prisons. At least 11,505 jailbirds ran out of different prisons across the country, according to the Department of Prison Management. Security forces have arrested and brought back around 1,459 prisoners. It is a matter of great concern that around 3,450 prisoners absconded from Central Jail at Sundhara in Kathmandu. When the prisoners dared to flee under the nose of the Nepali Army (NA) headquarters, just imagine the situation in other parts of the country. The cases of captives breaking out of the prisons happened after the jail administration handed over Rabi Lamichhane to his spouse, Nikita Poudel, on Tuesday, citing security reasons. Over a dozen prisoners have been killed in encounters with the security forces. 

The security situation has greatly improved after the army clamped down a curfew and increased patrolling to control the criminal activities. Meanwhile, the NA has appreciated the general people for their support and cooperation with the security agencies in maintaining peace and security in the present adverse situation. Despite curfew and prohibitory orders, the vandalism and arson took place owing to the infiltration of anarchic persons and groups. The escaped captives can pose a threat to society. The morale of the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force has seemingly gone down in the wake of the Gen-Z protest. Now these security organs should come up with confidence to maintain order and control the criminal activities such as looting and arson.

At the moment of chaos and uncertainty, the security personnel, civil servants, media persons and citizens can be carried away by the misleading news and rumours. So it is of urgent importance for all to fact-check the new information circulated via social and digital media. The media outlets should be aware of the current sensitive time and publish only credible and correct news and information. The country is going through a difficult time. The Gen-Z movement has toppled the KP Sharma Oli government and the process of forming the new one is underway. This is a time for all to show caution and maintain restraint. Moreover, the crisis time demands people’s solidarity, national unity and social harmony so that the nation takes right course of action.