Kathmandu, September 22
Transport entrepreneurs and workers’ organisations have demanded an investigation and compensation over the death of bus driver Arjun Dong, who died after attempting self-immolation in Tripureshwor on September 21.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the organisations alleged that Dong attempted to set himself on fire after facing prolonged harassment and pressure from traffic police following a dispute over the use of his bus horn.
According to the statement, the bus, Ba 5 Kha 4274, was travelling from Mulpani towards Thankot Bhanjyang when traffic was obstructed by a motorcycle on the bus’s side of the road near the Eye Hospital in Tripureshwor. Dong reportedly honked to clear the way.
The organisations claimed traffic police stopped the bus over the incident, asked for its documents and attempted to take action against the driver. A dispute reportedly began after Dong told police that he had not committed any wrongdoing.
The statement alleges that passengers were ordered off the bus and that the vehicle was kept under police control for around two hours while Dong was reprimanded. When police attempted to take the bus to the Traffic Police Headquater, Dong protested.
The organisations claim that he subsequently set himself on fire after being unable to withstand what they described as mental pressure and harassment from traffic police.
They have described the incident as a serious failure on the part of the state, arguing that the driver attempted self-immolation while the bus was under traffic police control.
The transport organisations have put forward a nine-point list of demands, including immediate relief, appropriate compensation and rehabilitation for Dong’s family. They have also demanded compensation for the owner of the bus, which was completely destroyed in the incident.
They have called for a judicial investigation committee involving relevant stakeholders to establish the facts of the incident and take action against those responsible.
The organisations have also demanded that transport workers be covered by the Labour Act, employed under formal contracts and enrolled in the social security system.
They have called for a 24-hour helpline and a rapid-response mechanism through which transport workers can file complaints about alleged mistreatment, harassment and disputes involving traffic police.
The unions have also demanded an investigation into the conduct and working methods of traffic police on the roads.
“Traffic police operations should be made technology-friendly and people-oriented, with a monitoring mechanism involving stakeholders,” the statement said.
They have also called for the delegation of discretionary powers given to traffic police to be reviewed and reorganised to prevent their misuse.
A joint struggle committee comprising the presidents of six transport federations and unions has been formed to press for the demands. The organisations warned that if their demands are not addressed immediately, they will announce further peaceful, democratic and lawful protest programmes.
The statement was signed by Punya Prasad Sitoula, president of the Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs’ National Federation; Dolnath Khanal, president of the Central Federation of Public Transport; Dipak KC, president of the All Nepal Transport Workers’ Union; Rajendra Bikram Baniya, president of the Nepal Truck Transport Federation; Bhimjwala Rai, president of the Nepal Transport Independent Workers’ Organisation; and Jagannath Gautam, general secretary of the Nepal Transport Workers’ Union.
