Author: space4knews

April 28, Kathmandu – After the government operated bulldozers in the Sukumbasi settlement of Thapathali on Saturday morning, 26-year-old Pravesh Pariyar, along with his family of six including his pregnant wife, relocated to an ashram in Kirtipur. “There is nowhere to go. The government did not even give us time to find a place,” he said. “My wife has an appointment on the 13th of May for delivery. She has fallen ill since we arrived here.” Due to increased pain, his wife, who was nearly nine months pregnant, was taken to a maternity home today.

“Problems have compounded one after another. I was making a living through day labor, and now the stress of having no place to live has increased,” said Pravesh. Twenty years ago, Pravesh’s mother had brought him from Udaypur to settle in the Sukumbasi settlement in Thapathali, where he grew up and recently got married. “Previously, the birth of a child was a joy, but the government has brought such dire circumstances,” said his sister Pooja, who lives with her maternal family after facing discrimination from her husband’s family due to her inter-caste marriage.

“There are six of us – mother, sister, niece, nephew, wife, and me,” Pravesh added. “We were given only one hammock to live on here in the ashram.” Carrying his underage nephew, his pregnant wife, and elderly mother, Pravesh is anxious about where they will go next. They are angered by the government’s actions, asking, “If there was nowhere to take us, why did they demolish our homes?”

Following the demolition in Sukumbasi settlements in Thapathali as well as Gairigaun, Shantinagar, and Manohara, 155 displaced families have been brought to the Radhaswami Satsang Byas Ashram. A monitoring team from an organization concluded that the ashram itself is uninhabitable. The National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders has described the ashram where the displaced reside as an open prison. According to the network, the behavior of the metropolitan municipality and Nepal Police, along with the physical conditions of the ashram, make it equivalent to an open jail.

“During the rainy season, leaking tin roofs force everyone to crowd in one open hall,” the report states. “Especially for women, there is a severe lack of privacy, with CCTV cameras installed all over the hall and no separate space for changing clothes.” When a team visited on Tuesday afternoon, the displaced residents openly shared their distress.

“Illnesses are increasing. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are facing difficulties. Food arrangements are lacking,” said 38-year-old Sirjana Limbu. “There is strict regulation on going outside; names must be registered.” Following public exposure of the ashram’s poor conditions, journalists have been barred from taking photos or videos. “After complaints about insufficient food surfaced, now the media is not allowed in,” a young man living at the center said.

The most pressing concern for displaced residents brought to this ashram, facilitated by metropolitan police, is the uncertainty about the future. “They said children would start school from today, but I was not allowed to send my son,” said 35-year-old Sunita Tamang. Her 13-year-old son previously attended Srijansheel Secondary School in Budhanilkantha, where many children from Thapathali’s settlement also studied. According to Sunita, this school is preferred due to its affordability compared to other nearby schools.

While displaced children face uncertainties about their education, men who used to work as day laborers are now struggling to find materials near the demolished settlements. “We women are forced to remain confined here, while men go to clean others’ homes to earn money,” Sirjana explained.

Ten Thousand Displaced Following Bulldozing
Kathmandu Metropolitan Police reported that demolitions of houses and structures occurred in four squatter settlements across the capital on Saturday and Sunday, affecting 2,081 families. Specifically, 144 families in Thapathali, 1,000 in Gairigaun, 131 in Manohara (toward Kathmandu), and 806 in Manohara (toward Bhaktapur) were displaced, impacting more than 10,320 people in total. Nearly half of these displaced individuals have registered at the Dashrath Rangasala stadium for temporary shelter.

As of Tuesday, 1,124 families comprising 3,584 individuals have officially applied for squatter status with the Kathmandu Metropolitan Office. Staff from the metropolitan office and the empowered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee have been handling applications. Officials noted that applications for resettlement have increased in recent days. The number of families arriving at the Rangasala holding center grew from 181 on Saturday to 373 on Monday. “We are still taking applications; the exact number to come is uncertain,” an official at the center stated.

Only a small portion of those registered at the holding center has been accommodated in religious ashrams or various guest houses around Kathmandu by the metropolitan authorities. Vimal Dhakal, Development Commissioner of the Valley Development Authority, stated that many displaced prefer to stay on their own and that the demand for temporary housing remains low. “More people are contacting us, but most want to stay by themselves,” she said.

Following the sudden demolition, many displaced people sought refuge with relatives or rented rooms elsewhere. Those who initially took shelter with relatives are increasingly arriving at Rangasala. However, no official data has been collected by any governmental body. “While the prime minister’s directive coordinated the demolition work, no coordination exists regarding the resettlement of the displaced,” an official explained. Various bodies, including the Kathmandu Metropolitan Office, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Land Management, empowered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee, Valley Development Authority, and Nepal Police are involved, but leadership and coordination appear lacking.

According to Development Commissioner Dhakal, incomplete data collection has contributed to delays and confusion in the process. “We are verifying the three-generation lineage; further steps will depend on this. If individuals are found elsewhere, they won’t be recognized as genuine squatters,” she added. Displaced residents express deep frustration at Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s method of identifying squatters by demolishing their homes first. Many staying in the religious ashram in Kirtipur have voiced anger toward the Prime Minister.

“They turn off cameras before distributing food and then post on social media as though the squatters are happy here,” one displaced person said, “How can anyone be happy after their home has been destroyed?”

Rajup Prasad Chapagain, coordinator of the Accountability Monitoring Group and a human rights defender, labeled the bulldozing of squatter settlements as authoritarian and inhumane. “Without considering constitutional provisions, legal procedures, or humanitarian aspects, people were made homeless by the Prime Minister’s orders, which is unacceptable even under a hostile regime,” he said. Chapagain also criticized the approach taken when Mayor Shah demolished and verified homes without following the Supreme Court’s orders, calling it an unethical method.

Armed Police Force Chief Raju Aryal is set to retire after completing his four-year term on April 30. During his tenure, he issued 109 procedures, directives, and standards within the force. Aryal was held accountable for security lapses during the Janajati (Janajee) movement, which tragically resulted in 19 deaths.

Kathmandu, April 28 – Raju Aryal, Chief of the Armed Police Force (APF), is stepping down after a full four-year term, despite having two more years of service eligibility based on his overall 30-year service. The government has already appointed Narayandatt Paudel as his successor. Throughout this extended tenure, Aryal avoided major controversies. While minor internal dissatisfaction arose within the organization, no significant disputes involved his leadership.

Typically, leaders of police organizations face conflicts related to operational procedures, jurisdiction, staffing, transfers, promotions, and procurement, which can become more complex during lengthy terms. Aryal successfully balanced these challenges, completing his term without major incident, and is expected to have a smooth farewell on April 30.

“The organization’s chief acts like a guardian but decisions must be made collectively,” Aryal often emphasized in meetings and briefings. Since taking command of the Armed Police on May 2, 2022, he has put this principle of collective decision-making into practice, which contributed significantly to his success.

“When youths in the organization suffer, the chief feels the pain, and when the chief is pained, everyone in the force is affected. A spirit of solidarity and mutual respect has developed in the organization,” he said. For major policy issues, he regularly consulted with Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) and Additional Inspector Generals (AIGs), a practice endorsed by APF officials.

Reviewing the history of former APF chiefs reveals cases involving controversy and corruption, with some facing investigations by anti-corruption authorities. Aryal, however, maintained a distance from any financial irregularities.

During Aryal’s tenure as IGP, the Home Ministry was led initially by Nepali Congress’s Bal Krishna Kha, under Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey’s administration. Over four years, Aryal worked with six home ministers and seven home secretaries—a first for any APF chief to handle so many leadership transitions. After Kha, he collaborated with Ravi Lamichhane, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Ramesh Lekhak, Om Prakash Aryal, and Sudhan Gurung as home ministers, and served under secretaries from Tek Narayan Pandey to Rajkumar Shrestha.

His easygoing nature helped maintain continuity despite frequent leadership changes. Following the tumultuous Janajati movement, the APF played a critical role in ensuring successful elections. As force chief, Aryal took responsibility for this task, addressing challenges related to weapons and detainees.

“Most prisoners are wanted criminals whom we arrest as soon as we find them. We had no fear of the elections being disrupted. Any lost weapons were likely hidden by criminals, but those weapons posed no operational threat,” Aryal said. Under his leadership, elections held in Falgun, as well as local body elections in April 2022 and parliamentary elections in December 2022, proceeded smoothly.

Upon becoming IGP, Aryal had vowed to make transfers and promotions just and predictable, introducing policy-based organizational management and standards. During his tenure, 109 procedural documents—including directives, standards, permanent orders, and work plans—streamlined APF operations, according to spokesperson Shailendra Thapa.

External administrative offices also conducted organizational and management surveys for employee career development and promotion. True to his commitment, Aryal began publishing forecast lists for transfers and promotions to increase transparency, although some complaints about these processes persisted.

He prioritized digitalizing institutional knowledge and leave management systems and emphasized financial transparency, stating these efforts during last Friday’s meeting with security reporters at the APF headquarters in Halchowk.

Aryal noted, “I have submitted my leave request to the ministry. If approved, this will be my final meeting with you in uniform.” While awaiting leave approval, he remarked, “The Home Ministry has not yet made a decision; I am monitoring the situation.” Historically, some IGPs have delayed retirement by extending service terms, causing challenges for both ministry staff and the police. Aryal, however, planned to take leave a month in advance and even submitted leave forms a week ago, though they remain unapproved. Traditionally, outgoing IGPs take leave well before retirement; Aryal sought to institutionalize this practice.

During his term, the previously disbanded Border Security Division was restructured and reinstated by adding an AIG position to underscore border security’s importance. In this period, 3,757 border pillars were constructed, repaired, and painted. Surveillance improved with the installation of 388 CC cameras at 110 border locations. Thirty-two border outposts were established, and 45 proposed border security posts were upgraded to permanent status.

Under the “One Soldier, One Skill” policy, 2,219 personnel received skill-based training. Additionally, 134 divers were trained and deployed across provinces. Specialized training on insurgency and terrorism was initiated within the force. The APF hospital’s bed capacity rose from 110 to 218 of the planned 300 beds.

Despite a controversy-free tenure, Aryal’s record is marred by security failures during the Janajati movement. On September 8, 2022, protesters demanding the lifting of social media restrictions, addressing corruption and irregularities, held demonstrations in Kathmandu. Security agencies appeared unprepared, and protesters breached barriers to enter restricted zones. Security personnel fired shots, resulting in 19 deaths in Kathmandu on September 9. This event created a de facto lawlessness situation, with all security forces failing to contain the crisis effectively. Analyzing and strategizing to avoid such failures required commitment from all security bodies, including the APF. Responsibility for the security failure during the Janajati movement rests partly with Aryal as the force chief, who was the commanding officer responsible for both sides.

April 28, Kathmandu – The retrofitting work of the Gallery Meeting Building inside Singha Durbar is progressing at a rapid pace. Lalitpur-based Prera Nirman Seva Pvt. Ltd. is carrying out the retrofitting of the building. The Gallery Meeting Building was damaged during the 2015 earthquake.

The Special Building Construction Project Implementation Office under the Ministry of Urban Development signed an agreement with the construction company on May 20, 2024. The construction company is required to complete the retrofitting work by mid-December 2024. The estimated cost of the project is approximately NPR 390 million.

Heavy rainfall has caused a complete blockage of traffic on the BP Highway in Kavrepalanchok district. The police have stated that the highway will only be reopened once the weather conditions improve. Kathmandu, April 28 – Intense rain in various parts of Kavrepalanchok has forced authorities to close the highway, according to police sources. Travel on the highway will resume only after the weather clears. Notifications regarding the reopening of the highway will be issued once conditions stabilize, and travelers are advised to contact emergency numbers 100 and 103 before making their journeys.

The National Sports Council (NSC) has proposed a direct meeting with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to resolve the ongoing dispute involving the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). NSC Member Secretary Ramcharitra Mehta made the proposal during discussions with ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai. Mehta informed that a letter will be sent to FIFA and AFC on Wednesday to arrange a joint meeting. He stated, “ANFA has agreed to facilitate this meeting.”
Previously, a virtual discussion had taken place between FIFA, AFC, ANFA, and NSC. Due to the early election dispute, the NSC suspended ANFA for three months on March 24. FIFA and AFC have issued a warning via letter, stating that if the issues with ANFA are not resolved by May 4, suspension procedures will proceed. Meanwhile, the NSC has proposed holding the joint discussion before May 4. ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah has also confirmed that talks with the NSC are ongoing.

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has directed various levels of employees to mandatorily record attendance within three days. The ministry has requested details from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of Land Management, the Ministry of Education, as well as the offices of Koshi, Gandaki, and Sudurpashchim provincial governments, and Mudkechula Rural Municipality. It has warned that legal action will be taken against those who fail to comply within the stipulated time.

15 Baisakh, Kathmandu – The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has urged the concerned offices to immediately ensure the attendance of employees assigned to various positions. In a notice issued today, the ministry requested prompt attendance from transferred employees and clearance from those who have left, while asking for the necessary details.

The ministry has specifically sought information from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Ministry of Land Management, the Ministry of Education, the provincial governments of Koshi, Gandaki, Sudurpashchim, and Mudkechula Rural Municipality. The notice mandates employees to mandatorily report attendance within three days and to complete clearance procedures. This notice was issued following complaints that employees assigned to workplaces have not yet reported. It further states that failure to attend within the designated timeframe will result in legal proceedings as prescribed by law.

April 28, Kathmandu – Although the authority dispute within the Nepali Congress (NC) has been settled by the Supreme Court, the faction outside the established leadership continues parallel activities. Despite the Supreme Court dismissing the writ challenging the authority of the leadership elected by the special general convention, the outgoing acting president Purusottam Khadka remains active with parallel initiatives. On April 17, the Supreme Court dismissed writs related to authority filed by former president Sher Bahadur Deuba and Khadka. Following this dismissal, the central committee led by Gagan Thapa, chosen through the special general convention, was declared legitimate.

Prior to this, the Election Commission had recognized the special general convention held at the end of Poush (mid-January) as lawful. On January 16, the Commission decided to legally update the central committee’s details, affirming the convention’s conformity with laws and party rules. After the Commission’s decision, the Deuba group’s claim to deny the convention’s legitimacy was automatically void. Even after the commission’s endorsement, the Deuba-Khadka faction continued to challenge the authority in the Supreme Court, which ultimately dismissed their writs.

Three months after the authority-related case dismissal, on April 18, acting president Khadka met with senior leaders at his residence in Golfutar. Following consultations, he convened a meeting of office bearers and central members elected at the 14th general convention on April 19. After the meeting’s conclusions, Khadka called another gathering for April 21.

This two-day meeting at Hotel Smart in Dhumbarahi invited office bearers, central members, district presidents, and regional chairs from the valley who were elected in the 14th general convention. The gathering reportedly includes Khadka himself, 62 central members elected in the 14th convention, four provincial presidents and vice presidents, 34 district presidents, 30 regional presidents, 40 former district presidents, current district members, and general committee members. According to attendees, 23 leaders expressed their views on April 21.

Acting president Khadka announced another meeting scheduled for 11 a.m. on April 22, information confirmed by Kanchanpur Congress president Padam Bogati. Former Defense Minister Bhimsen Das Pradhan stated that participants complained that President Thapa had not yet taken initiatives to maintain party unity despite the leadership’s responsibility.

Leaders participating in the meeting expressed concern that while the party’s unity requires significant contribution from the president, no concrete steps have been undertaken so far. Upon leaving the venue, Pradhan remarked that President Thapa should clarify whether he intends to be a leader for only one faction or represent the entire Congress.

“Currently, the rightful president is Gagan Thapa. The question remains whether the president represents all or just one faction,” he said. Leader Ram Hari Khatiwada emphasized that it is the president’s responsibility to strengthen the party. Although the Supreme Court resolved the internal dispute, Khatiwada stated that discussions on how to conduct the 15th general convention with greater unity are still pending.

“Before the election on February 3, there was a debate about holding the special general convention or not. The Supreme Court has made a decision. Now, discussions are underway on how to hold the 15th general convention with broader unity,” Khatiwada explained. “There is consensus that the president should take the initiative to strengthen the party.”

While the extra-establishment leadership insists on the president’s role in uniting the party, President Thapa met Khadka at his residence on April 19. Sources indicate that Thapa has taken initiatives to strengthen the party following the resolution of the dispute by the judiciary. Nevertheless, Khadka has continued parallel activities.

This raises questions as to why Khadka still faces difficulties returning to the party despite the court’s verdict resolving the dispute. When asked for comment, Khadka declined to speak. However, his close associate, leader Min Bishwakarma, stated that although the Supreme Court and Election Commission have resolved the legal and constitutional disputes, political and practical differences remain, which is why parallel activities persist.

“The court and commission settled legal and constitutional questions, but political and practical disputes persist, hence the need for party unity,” Bishwakarma said. “Discussions are ongoing regarding how to make the 15th general convention a shared convention for unity.”

The outgoing propaganda department head Bishwakarma also indicated that until leaders from his faction receive roles in Thapa’s central committee, the parallel activities will continue.

“At a time when party work requires going to Sanepa, some leaders here lack roles in the central committee,” he said. “Without such a setup, party unity cannot be considered achieved.”

Bishwakarma claimed that the central committee elected through the special general convention has operated unilaterally, leading many leaders elected in the 14th convention to drift away from the party’s mainstream.

“The 14th convention elected committee issued a schedule for the 15th convention, but an election intervened,” he said. “The decision not to hold the convention before the election was made in April, but since the special convention happened, the party ran unilaterally, causing many colleagues to move away from the mainstream.”

Meanwhile, outgoing central member Kundan Raj Kafle refuted claims that leaders from other factions have not returned to party work.

“We are involved in party activities. Wherever our leaders and activists are needed, we are present. Even this meeting is party work,” he stated.

The former minister of Bagmati Province Kafle explained that the meeting was convened to discuss how to strengthen party unity, transform the party into a powerful opposition from a weak one, hold the government accountable, and work in the people’s interest.

April 28, Kathmandu – Water has infiltrated the Radhaswami Satsang Ashram in Kirtipur, where displaced residents from the Sukumbasi community have been accommodated. Heavy rain and strong winds that hit the Kathmandu Valley on Tuesday evening have further impacted these displaced individuals. The shelter consists only of a roof without walls. Efforts were made to cover the tents to protect against the wind, but the heavy evening rain caused water to seep in. The Sukumbasi settlements in Thapathali, Gairigaun, and Manohara areas of Kathmandu were cleared last Saturday and Sunday, and those displaced have been relocated to Kirtipur.