Kathmandu, March 9
The government has begun studying the report submitted by the commission formed to investigate the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24.
Following the submission of the report to Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sunday by commission officials, several Cabinet members have begun discussing its contents and potential next steps.
A source at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers said, “Some ministers have started a preliminary review of the report. The upcoming Cabinet meeting will move forward with the remaining procedures.”
Prime Minister’s Press Adviser Ram Bahadur Rawal said that the sealed report submitted by the commission has not yet been opened.
“Once the sealed report is presented at the upcoming Cabinet meeting, it will decide the remaining matters,” Rawal told Onlinekhabar. “Since the report has not been opened, nothing is known about its contents.”
What is in the report?
According to a source at the commission secretariat, staff members prepared the draft report, leaving blank sections on certain sensitive incidents, the individuals involved, and recommended actions against them.
“In the final three days, Commission Chair Gauri Bahadur Karki told us that the remaining work would be completed by the commission itself and that staff did not need to review it,” a staff member said. “After the report was printed, we did not pay much attention to it.”
The source said the commission analysed the roles and responsibilities of several individuals during the Gen-Z movement, including then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung.
“The report recommends action after holding them accountable based on an analysis of their roles,” the source said, declining to specify the level of action recommended.
The source also stated that another level of action has been recommended against the IGP Chandra Kuber Khapung, Kathmandu Chief District Officer Chhavi Rijal, and others. Several other police officials implicated in the incident have been recommended for action in accordance with the Police Act.
Analysis of Bhadra incidents
The commission has also questioned the roles of those involved in the violence and arson on Bhadra 24. According to sources, the roles played by Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, and the Nepal Army have also been analysed.
“Action has been recommended in accordance with prevailing laws against some individuals found involved in vandalism and arson,” a commission source said. “An effort has also been made to examine the circumstances and events that led to such a situation.”
Commission member and spokesperson Bigyan Raj Sharma described the Bhadra 24 incident as broader and more complex in nature.
“We have established a foundation for further investigation in the future,” he said in a response to Onlinekhabar. “Some may be satisfied with the report; others may not. We have worked based on what we observed.”
Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, in a brief response to Onlinekhabar, said the report submitted to the Prime Minister is confidential.
“Further details will be known after the Prime Minister presents it to the Cabinet for review,” he said. “At the moment, I do not know anything more about the report.”
