267 Arrested on Arson and Vandalism Charges During Gen-Z Protest

A total of 267 people have been arrested on charges of arson and vandalism during the ‘Gen-Z’ protests on September 8 and 9, according to the Kathmandu District Police Range.

Police said 154 cases related to arson, vandalism and criminal unrest have been registered so far. Of those detained, 87 were released on general date, while investigations are ongoing against 113 individuals. Thirty-three suspects have been released on bail and 43 sent to judicial custody.

The Police Range said 104 complaints have been lodged in connection with arson, vandalism, criminal unrest and related offences. These included 66 complaints related to damage to government offices, 16 involving institutional and business entities, the Supreme Court and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, and 22 related to individual compaints.

DNA testing is underway for seven unidentified individuals. Police said descriptions of those reported missing had also been obtained. A total of 228 property-damage reports were prepared for damaged buildings and structures.

Meanwhile, police have arrested three individuals in Damak, Jhapa, with two pistols looted from the Metropolitan Police Office, Kathmandu, during the Gen-Z demonstrations.

Police recovered two pistols and 20 rounds of ammunition from their possession. The detainees were identified as Bishwo Lingden, 29, of Prashanti Tole in Damak-6; Saroj Puri, 26, of Damak-9; and Pawan Hangsungwa, 30, of Aaitabare, Chulachuli-4 in Ilam.

A joint team from the Narcotics Control Bureau’s Kakarbhitta branch office, led by Police Sub-Inspector Kumar Somesh Lamichhane, and the Damak Area Police Office first apprehended Saroj Puri at Damak-8 on Monday night. Police seized a Type-54 Chinese pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition from him.

During interrogation, Puri revealed that he had kept another pistol with Bishwo Lingden. Police then arrested Lingden from his residence. He later admitted to selling the weapon to Pawan Hangsungwa for Rs 20,000.

Following the lead, a joint team reached Hangsungwa’s farmland, where they recovered a buried Type-54 Chinese pistol wrapped in a red plastic bag. The weapon was rusted, with five rounds loaded.

All three suspects, along with the recovered firearms and ammunition, have been sent to Kathmandu for further action. -- RSS