KATHMANDU, March 16: Dissatisfaction is mounting after the commission formed by the government to investigate the incidents during the Gen-Z movement recommended action that, officials say, could weaken the morale of security agencies.
The commission has already submitted its report to the government. Critics argue that although everyone must abide by the law and security agencies exercise authority while enforcing it, the report instead recommends action against those responsible for maintaining order.
Officials from the security sector have interpreted the commission’s recommendations as an attempt to weaken security institutions. “On September 8, the police organization and security agencies came under attack. Yet the commission has recommended action against security officials in a way that could embolden the attackers. This is nothing but a conspiracy to weaken security agencies,” said an official from the sector.
Security officials claim that while recommending action against officers deployed in the field during the movement, the commission failed to assess the possible consequences of such decisions.
They argue that the recommendations overlook the responsibilities of security agencies and fail to adequately consider existing legal provisions. The proposal to take action against officers of Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force (APF) has triggered a ripple effect within both institutions.
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During the Gen-Z movement, police used force after protesters resorted to vandalism at the Parliament building. In the course of the incident, 19 protesters were killed. In connection with the same incident, the commission prepared a report recommending criminal action against some officials of Nepal Police and the APF and submitted it to the government, leading to discontent within the security agencies.
According to a source at the commission, the report submitted to Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sunday, March 8, recommended dismissal from service for some security officials and departmental action against others.
Although the government has said it will implement the report, it has not yet made it public. The decision to keep the report confidential has been widely viewed as significant.
The commission has concluded that there was extreme negligence in security arrangements on September 8 during the Gen-Z movement and that protesters were suppressed. The report holds security officials responsible. “There was negligence in security arrangements. Action has been recommended against the police officials responsible for that negligence,” said a member of the commission.
According to sources, the report states that those responsible for the September 8 incident include the then chief of Nepal Police, Chandra Kuber Khapung, as well as the SSP, SP and DSP of the District Police Range, Kathmandu.
The source also said the report recommends action against the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak. However, the report reportedly does not specify under which criminal clause they should be prosecuted.
Similarly, regarding the vandalism that occurred on September 8, the commission has recommended departmental action against some senior police officers, citing lapses in security management. However, sources say the report does not clearly identify who the main culprit was that day.
According to a member of the commission, action has been recommended against those found responsible, but the report does not specify the nature of the action. After submitting the report, commission spokesperson Bigyan Raj Sharma avoided giving clear details, saying that action would be taken in accordance with the offense. “We have recommended action based on the nature of the offense. Everything will become clear once the report is made public,” he had said.
According to a security official, Sharma himself played a role in portraying the police as guilty. Sharma, a former AIG of Nepal Police, has faced allegations since his appointment to the commission, including attempting to define jurisdictional limits for police personnel deployed during the movement—from field officers to top leadership—and making publicity-oriented statements during the process of recording testimonies. Police officials have expressed dissatisfaction with his actions.
Senior officials of Nepal Police and the APF say that if criminal cases are filed against police merely for being deployed on duty, the police may hesitate to act in future crowd-control situations, potentially planting the seeds of unrest within the security sector. “Excessive use of force can be a matter for departmental action. But if criminal charges are filed, it will only sow the seeds of rebellion. That could create a situation where any government would struggle to maintain law and order,” said an official of Nepal Police.
The commission has also concluded that security agencies failed in their planning during the Gen-Z movement. Despite prior information that a large protest was likely, only basic barricades were placed on the streets, no early attempt was made to disperse the crowd, force was not applied in a phased manner, and lethal weapons were fired indiscriminately at once, according to a source citing the report.
The commission further concluded that the use of lethal weapons led to a large number of casualties. For the report to be implemented, the government must forward it to the Office of the Attorney General. However, the government led by Karki has yet to do so.
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