KATHMANDU, July 12: Sahayatra–International Alliance for Social Justice has expressed deep sorrow over the death of 25-year-old Ganesh Nepali and urged the Government of Nepal to launch an independent, transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a press statement issued from Toronto on Sunday, the organization said the incident raises serious questions about the exercise of state authority, equal treatment under the law and the responsibility of public institutions to protect the dignity and rights of every citizen.
According to the statement, Nepali, a resident of Mugu and a member of Nepal's Dalit community, died after setting himself on fire outside a government office in Kathmandu on Thursday. The organization cited media reports saying that he had gone to the office to apply for a passport when an altercation allegedly took place with Kathmandu Metropolitan City Police personnel after he was fined Rs 10,000 for reportedly parking his motorcycle in a restricted area.
The statement said media reports indicate that the confrontation escalated, leaving Nepali in severe emotional distress before he allegedly poured petrol from his motorcycle over himself and set himself on fire. It noted that the exact circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear and require an independent investigation.
‘Justice is dying in Nepal. Let’s save it!’
Sahayatra said the case should be viewed as a test of justice, equality and state accountability. It said that while the circumstances differ significantly from the death of George Floyd in the United States, both incidents highlight the need to examine whether institutional actions or failures contributed to the loss of human life.
The organization stated that if an independent investigation establishes that sustained humiliation, intimidation, discriminatory treatment or excessive use of authority contributed to Nepali's actions, the incident would represent a serious failure of public institutions.
It also urged investigators to examine whether Nepali received equal treatment under the law or whether caste may have influenced how the incident was handled. The statement said it is important to determine through a fair and impartial investigation whether the same level of pressure or punitive action would have been applied if the individual had belonged to a socially privileged caste.
The organization said accountability is essential whenever there are credible concerns that official conduct may have contributed to a citizen's death, adding that justice is measured not only by how people die but also by whether public institutions protect human dignity, treat every citizen equally and are held accountable when they fail.
Sahayatra called on the government to establish an independent inquiry capable of determining the facts without political or institutional interference and to implement any reforms recommended by the investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
It also appealed to the government to provide fair compensation, psychosocial support and long-term assistance to Nepali's bereaved family, recognizing both their immediate hardship and the state's responsibility to respond compassionately whenever a citizen loses life under circumstances that warrant public accountability.
