People involved in arson, looting weapons, and vandalizing police offices during the GenZ movement of Sept 8 and 9 have begun to be arrested in groups. Police have intensified their operation against those who targeted security personnel, torched police offices, stole uniforms and belongings, and escaped with weapons and ammunition.
According to Nepal Police Spokesperson Binod Ghimire, suspects are being identified through social media footage, evidence collected on-site, and other photos and videos. He said anyone found guilty of crimes such as looting and arson in the name of the movement will be brought to justice.
One of the key arrests is that of 38-year-old Sachin Khadka of Kathmandu, accused of leading the attack on the Kalimati Police Circle on Sept 9. He allegedly set fire to the office and was later seen on social media brandishing a rifle and a khukuri while celebrating in front of the burning building. Khadka is also accused of setting fire to the ward office of Kathmandu-13.
Meanwhile, seven pistols looted from the Valley Traffic Police Office have been recovered. DSP Purnima Chand of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, said the weapons were seized from Kharibot in Kathmandu Metropolitan City-16. Police also arrested 30-year-old Hira Bahadur Magar of Udayapurgadhi Rural Municipality-8, Udayapur, a taxi driver, who had hidden the stolen pistols in the trunk of his vehicle (Bagmati Province-01-002 Pa 6449). A police team recovered seven Type-54 pistols and 33 rounds of SLR bullets based on a special tip-off.
Similarly, six individuals have been arrested for arson and vandalism at the Imadol police division. A video showed them ransacking the office and stealing police uniforms during the Sept 9 protest. The arrested have been identified as Rajkumar Tamang, 20, of Kavre; Gokarna Rai, 22, of Dhankuta; Krishnaraj Giri, 20, of Ramechhap; Sunil Kumar Basnet, 31, of Udayapur; Saroj Nepali, 22, of Solukhumbu; and Naresh Tamang, 21, of Sindhuli. They were apprehended from different locations in coordination with the District Police Range, Kathmandu, and other police units.
In a separate development, two American nationals who had escaped from prison during the unrest have also been rearrested. According to Dharmaraj Bhandari, spokesperson for the Central Investigation Bureau, Michael Norman Taylor—jailed for child sexual abuse—and Jason Lode Moody—jailed for rape—were arrested from Maharajgunj following a tip-off.
