Author: space4knews

April 23, Janakpurdham – The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration had transferred Chief Engineer Rajendra Sah (Grade III Gazetted Officer) of the Physical Infrastructure Development Office, Bara, Madhesh Province, on January 15. The ministry informed the Ministry of Urban Development and the Madhesh Chief Minister and Council of Ministers’ office about his transfer. However, Engineer Sah has yet to receive his transfer letter and continues to serve as the head of the Bara office, where he has worked for years.

Similarly, Senior Divisional Engineer (Grade II Gazetted Officer) Deepakkumar Mishra, who served as head of the Physical Infrastructure Development Office in Rautahat, was transferred on January 17. The Ministry of General Administration transferred him to the Urban Development Ministry or its affiliated bodies and informed the Chief Minister’s office. Although both employees were notified about their transfers through the Physical Infrastructure Ministry and urged to accept, they have remained in their current positions without receiving official transfer letters.

Acting Secretary Sanjay Kumar Sah of the Physical Infrastructure Ministry confirmed that they sent formal correspondence instructing the employees to collect their transfer letters after receiving information from the Chief Minister’s office. “The ministry has requested the concerned employees to receive their transfers via official letters, but they have not complied yet,” he said. These two are not alone; other employees under this ministry have also refused transfers.

On January 12, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration had transferred eight engineers, including Virendra Prasad Sah, Sanjiv Kumar Sah, Lal Babu Rai, Ram Babu Prasad, Rimpukamari Yadav, Anant Kumar Raut, Ram Sagar Mandal, and Gulab Sahu. Their transfer information was shared with Madhesh’s physical infrastructure offices through the Chief Minister’s office. However, none have accepted their transfer letters so far.

“We have sent letters prompting offices to proceed with the transfer letter issuance, but the employees are yet to collect them,” said Secretary Sah. Sources indicate that per verbal instructions from Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav, employees transferred up to mid-July of the current fiscal year are being allowed to continue in their posts. This hesitance to accept transfers is not unique to this ministry; the Madhesh Ministry of Health and Population is also experiencing similar issues among its medical staff.

For instance, Dr. Rajiv Kumar Jha, Chief of the Health Supply and Management Center in Madhesh, had his assignment withdrawn by the federal government on March 5. The Ministry of Health and Population reassigned senior consultant medical generalist Dr. Jha to his sanctioned post at Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar. The Chief Minister and Council of Ministers’ office have informed the concerned ministry about this, but as of Tuesday, Dr. Jha had not accepted his reassignment letter. He also acts as head of the Public Health Laboratory. Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Pramod Yadav stated that the reassignment letter has not yet arrived at the ministry. “Once the letter is received, appropriate action will be taken,” he said.

Furthermore, Consultant Physician (Grade X) Dr. Ranjit Jha, previously acting Medical Superintendent at Lahan Provincial Hospital, has been transferred to Bir Hospital, where his sanctioned post is located. Senior Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr. Ramdev Chaudhary, serving at Janakpur Provincial Hospital, was transferred to Koshi Hospital. However, neither has acknowledged their transfer letters, according to the ministry.

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration also transferred Engineer Kamlesh Kumar Mishra (Grade III Gazetted Officer) on March 8 from the Tourism Office in Rautahat under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, Madhesh Province, to the Solukhumbu District Coordination Committee office. He has yet to receive his transfer letter. Secretary Jay Kumar Ghimire stated, “Engineer Mishra is currently in the process of receiving his transfer order.”

In Madhesh, it is a longstanding practice that higher-level and influential employees resist transfers, hesitate to accept official letters, and attempt to remain in favorable posts. This often involves lobbying from the Chief Minister to ministers and adopting all necessary measures to retain preferred postings. Although there were expectations that such practices would cease with the new government, the recent incidents reflect continued resistance to transfer and reassignment decisions made under Chief Minister Walendra Shah’s leadership. This issue is endemic not only within the federal government but also within the Madhesh provincial government.

Employees with influence often reject transfers and reassignments, while those without influence or who do not comply with ministerial preferences are left without responsibilities or assigned unrelated tasks. Numerous incidents involving problematic transfer management have come to light. According to Undersecretary Rohit Koirala, spokesperson for the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers’ office, the office regularly communicates with the concerned ministries about employees transferred or reassigned by the federal government. “Based on letters received from the federal government, the Chief Minister’s office issues notifications to relevant ministries to enforce and follow up on these transfers,” he said. “However, there has been no feedback from any ministries regarding the status of the 12 employees recently involved.” The bureaucracy in Madhesh tends to serve the interests of the Chief Minister, ministers, and their affiliates, managing employee assignments to suit their convenience.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has instructed security agencies to clear areas inhabited by squatters. The government plans to complete an integrated digital registry of the landless, squatters, and those living in unplanned settlements within 60 days. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswap) has pledged to establish a high-level National Land Rights Authority to resolve the squatter issue. April 23, Kathmandu.

The topic resurfaced after Prime Minister Balendra Shah directed security chiefs to vacate the areas where squatters live. During a discussion with heads of security agencies on Wednesday, the Prime Minister emphasized evacuating these settlements. Notably, the government’s initial Cabinet-approved reform agenda, which includes 100 tasks, does not feature a policy to remove the landless, squatters, or unorganized settlements.

However, item number 90 in the reform agenda commits to collecting integrated data on the landless, squatters, and unplanned settlements. The government plans to complete digital biometric authentication of landless squatters and those living in unregulated settlements nationwide within 60 days. The Shah-led government aims to resolve these issues within 1,000 days.

During this period, local bodies will coordinate to conduct household surveys and implement clear criteria to identify genuine beneficiaries. Additionally, efforts will focus on updating records related to public, communal (ailani), and trust (guthi) lands, along with surveying and creating a GIS-based digital database. The reform agenda outlines various measures concerning squatters. The government has committed to gradually providing land to legitimate squatters.

For squatters and the landless living in urban areas, the reform plan includes creating integrated housing alternatives as well as rehabilitation arrangements. The government has assured full transparency in the land distribution and rehabilitation processes for the landless. Prior to the elections, Raswap had pledged to form a high-level Land Rights Authority to address squatter issues.

Raswap promised to set up a ‘high-level National Land Rights Authority’ to differentiate between genuine and fraudulent squatters. Their manifesto stated, “Learning from past failures, through satellite mapping and digital biometric authentication, a scientific distinction will be made between true landless individuals and fake squatters occupying government land.” For legitimate landless citizens, the plan includes developing integrated model settlements that are secure, equipped with facilities, linked to productive activities, and guaranteeing permanent housing and land ownership certificates (lalpurja).

April 23, Kathmandu – Three days after assuming office, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung inspected the Police Headquarters on March 30 and declared, “We will arrange for the newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) to be garlanded by the Prime Minister. I will take the initiative to make this happen.” Police officials present at the auditorium hall in Naxal Headquarters responded with applause.
The following day, Gurung visited the Armed Police Force Headquarters in Halchok and addressed those present in a similar manner. He expressed his commitment to boosting the morale of the Armed Police. Visiting two police offices within two days and announcing the system of the Prime Minister garlanding the IGP has been received positively by police officers.
Nearly a month has passed since the Home Minister’s promise, and preparations are underway to appoint a new IGP in the Armed Police within the next eight days. The four-year tenure of Armed Police Inspector General Raju Aryal is ending, and he will take mandatory retirement on April 30. The government is expected to make the decision on the new IGP this week, with the new IGP to be garlanded eight days later.
Following Minister Gurung’s commitment to facilitate the Prime Minister’s role in the garlanding ceremony, discussions are ongoing within security circles about who will garland the next IGP. According to the Home Ministry, preparations are progressing according to the former minister’s statement to have the IGP garlanded by the Prime Minister, although no final decision has been made. A ministry official said, “Based on current preparations, the garlanding will be done by the Prime Minister’s hands. If nothing changes at the last moment, the IGP appointed about a week from now will be garlanded by the Prime Minister.”
However, since Minister Sudhan Gurung has resigned from his post, it is uncertain whether this effort will be successful, and clarity will only come after the new IGP is appointed. Although the Police Act does not specify any rule about garlanding, traditionally, the outgoing IGP garlands the newly-appointed IGP.
Historically, the first Nepal Police IGP Toran Shamsher Rana used to garland himself. Subsequently, some events show there was no fixed rule and these practices were guided by traditional administrative decisions.
In 1961, after Pahal Singh Lama became IGP and modernization began in the police force, the historic traditions of garlanding started. According to former AIG Amar Singh Shah, after Lama’s tenure, it became customary for the outgoing IGP to garland the incoming IGP. Yet, over the years, interruptions and controversies arose, with political decisions by prime ministers and home ministers sometimes involving the Home Secretary in the garlanding ceremony.
A change in 1992 disrupted the tradition when Ratna Shamsher and some other IGPs were removed after reaching a 30-year service limit under the Police Act. Since then, various changes occurred. It remains a tradition for the Home Secretary to garland IGPs. According to former Home Minister Umesh Mainali, when the police organization was under the Home Ministry, the family, formal, and administrative custom was established where the Home Secretary garlanded IGPs. The tradition of garlanding the IGP in the Armed Police Force is somewhat irregular. The Armed Police Force was formed in 2000 after the Maoist insurgency, and the first IGP Krishna Mohan Shrestha was garlanded by then Home Minister Ramchandra Paudel. However, no set administrative or legal rule exists for garlanding a new IGP in the Armed Police Force, resulting in a disorganized and voluntary process.
The question now is who will garland the new IGP appointed on April 30. If the Prime Minister does the garlanding, it will be a historic first. Although the Police Act and regulations do not clearly mention the history or importance of this tradition, it remains a social and historical custom. A book titled History of Nepal Police refers to a ceremony at promotion occasions where senior officials adorn badges and offer fruits and colored powders as symbols of good wishes.
Former IGP Motilal Bohora said, “It would be a good tradition for the Prime Minister to garland the IGP. In the Nepal Army, the Chief of Army Staff is garlanded by the Head of State, and similarly, having the head of government garland the police sends a positive message. The act of garlanding symbolizes a parallel relationship and mutual respect between the police and the Home Secretary.” However, he also noted that currently, the Home Secretary appears to hold extensive authority over police leadership. Former Home Secretary Umesh Mainali emphasized that garlanding the IGP by the Prime Minister would be ideal, and it would have been preferable if the outgoing police chief had garlanded the successor, as in the past.
Former AIG Amar Singh Shah also advocates respecting the tradition where the outgoing IGP garlands the incoming IGP, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and fraternity. Former SP Ravindra Nath Regmi pointed out that the outgoing IGP should take at least a month’s leave to coordinate work and facilitate leadership training for the new IGP during the transition.
(Photos: Nepal Police, Armed Police, Former AIG Narayan Babu Thapa, and Pujan Baral)

April 23, Kathmandu – Harkraj Rai (Sampang), Chairman of the Labor Culture Party, has urged the government not to evict squatters from their homes. On Thursday evening, he expressed his willingness to offer assistance on managing the situation if consultation is needed, via a Facebook post.

“Government, do not carry out eviction of squatters. If you need advice or suggestions for management, feel free to ask,” Harkraj stated. “Also, do not display batons, boots, or guns in front of the people.”

Revised news summary. Over the past 15 years, 158 families have relocated from villages connected to Patan, Baitadi, due to a lack of drinking water, roads, and education. Despite 15 years passing since Patan was declared a model town, infrastructure and development plans remain stalled, with most structures in dilapidated condition. The main land pooling plan for the new town project has not been implemented and the office was merged into the intensive urban planning department.

April 23, Baitadi. Flat fields and large settlements on the agricultural terraces. These are the scenes where the government has declared 10 model towns across the country, including the villages surrounding Patan in Baitadi. Villages such as Paripatan, Lorkha, Meltdaa, Tunegair, Dobra, Paudi, and Bedauti fall under Ward No. 6 of the Model Town Patan Municipality, connected to Patan Market. As 15 years pass since the model town declaration, these villages are gradually depopulating.

The model town status was announced during fiscal year 2066–067 (2009-10). As expected development failed to materialize, the lack of road infrastructure, irrigation, drinking water, education, and health services has led these villages to consistently lose population. Meltdaa village previously had 35 families, now only 14 remain. According to local resident Dan Bahadur Chand, nearly 20 families have relocated to the Terai region. Chand states, “There are no roads here, there is no drinking water, there is a canal for irrigation but no water. Why would people stay?”

More than half of the houses in Meltdaa are now empty and paddy fields lie fallow. According to local Shanti Chand, there are virtually no households left to participate in funeral processions, and hundreds of ropani of land remain uncultivated. Similarly, in Bedauti village, where roughly 20 families once lived, only six remain currently. Local resident Labdev Chand reports that dozens of families have moved away and the village is almost deserted.

Ram Bahadur Chand, a teacher at Meltdaa, notes that if drinking water, irrigation, and infrastructure facilities were improved, migration would decrease. However, the new town project office has failed to perform as expected. “No significant work has been done in drinking water, infrastructure, education, or health sectors. Construction projects have been stalled for years — how can we feel any real development?” Chand questions.

According to Ward Secretary Navin Bisht of Patan Municipality–6, 158 families have relocated in the last 10 years, with 134 families moving out in just the past five years. Ward Chairperson Rajendra Bisht attributes the steady outflow of youth to lack of employment and inadequate development. The new town project office has yet to implement the critical land pooling plan, which has prevented locals from experiencing tangible development.

Fifteen years on, the various model town plans remain unimplemented. Former Chairperson Keshav Bahadur Chand explains budget shortages have left many projects in limbo. Most of the 10 towns previously announced have faced delays even before proper implementation. The land pooling plan remains unfinished and unable to acquire necessary land.

Development of new infrastructure and progress as a model town have been sluggish. Plans included roadway infrastructure, drainage, waste management, drinking water, electrification, and hospital construction. The government had targeted settling approximately 100,000 residents in the 10 model towns. In Patan, however, there is little evidence of model town progress beyond limited infrastructure like a solar streetlight and open ground.

Former Chairperson of the Municipal Development Committee, Jaysingh Bisht, says, “There are only fragmented plans, with no concrete measures to prevent the exodus from mountain settlements. Coordination between the office and local representatives is needed to move plans forward.”

Many structures built under the Patan new town project have fallen into disrepair. The model bus park initiated in fiscal year 2071/72 (2014/15) never opened and is now dilapidated. Hirapur recreational park has also degraded without development. An integrated waste management center has yet to be established, worsening rubbish management in the market area.

Land pooling, a key element of the new town implementation, has not progressed. Discussions are ongoing in Nangadi Batama near Patan Market with locals. The land pooling process involves surveying all plots in a designated area, developing wide roads, drainage, open spaces, and community facilities, and returning a portion of land to owners as homestead plots. Financing requires selling a small portion of land from each plot. This approach enables provision of roads, electricity, water, communication networks, playgrounds, health institutions, banks, and shopping complexes.

The new town development office has been integrated into the Intensive Urban and Building Construction Planning department since last December. Only three million rupees have been allocated this fiscal year for the intensive urban project, according to project chief Jhank Bahadur Thapa. “This year, the new town project plans to construct an integrated auditorium, but work has stalled due to lack of budget for open contracts,” he noted.

April 23, Kathmandu – The government has decided to transfer 25 undersecretaries to new positions. According to the cabinet decision made on Thursday, the transfers pertain to undersecretaries currently serving in federal ministries. Among these 25 officials, 21 have been assigned as secretaries in provincial government ministries, while the remaining 4 have been transferred as undersecretaries to the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers’ offices. The detailed list of transfers is as follows:

Police conducted a nighttime raid in the Sukumvasi settlement located in Thapathali, Kathmandu. The government has instructed security chiefs to clear the illegally occupied Sukumvasi settlements on Saturday and Sunday. Residents of the settlement have expressed that their lives are at risk and have demanded that the issues be classified properly before any resolution is sought. (April 23, Kathmandu)

At around 10:30 pm on Wednesday, Geeta Lama was preparing to cook food at the Sukumvasi settlement in Thapathali. Children in the neighborhood were getting ready to sleep, while others were cooking. Suddenly, the sound of boots echoed through the narrow lanes of the settlement. “One after another…” the voices came in groups, leaving everyone surprised. Soon, a police team led by a DSP entered the settlement simultaneously from two sides. The beam of flashlights began to sweep over the walls of the houses. Doors were knocked on, flashlights illuminated the interiors, and searches were conducted room by room.

The police stated that the search was conducted based on information that a criminal was hiding within the settlement. However, the residents were skeptical of the police explanation, as they believed the raid was conducted with officers carrying firearms. The directive to clear the illegally occupied settlements was issued by Prime Minister Balen Shah on Wednesday evening, tasked for implementation by security chiefs on Saturday and Sunday.

Meenakumar Rana Magar, chairman of the Sukumvasi Committee, referenced the government’s 100-day action plan, specifically item 91, in response to news regarding the settlement’s eviction. He remarked, “The Prime Minister has openly written about it, but where is the implementation? Not a single government official has visited the door of even one of the 146 families. Hearing about sudden eviction is a wrong path for this government.” Leaders of the Sukumvasi community have also engaged in discussions with leaders of the Citizen Movement on Thursday.

The Government of India has clarified that the imposition of customs duties on goods valued over NPR 100 brought from India to Nepal is a measure aimed at controlling informal trade. Ranvijay Jaswal, spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, stated that there will be no hindrance for Nepali citizens bringing goods for household use. The Indian government is maintaining continuous dialogue with Nepal on this matter, and Nepali authorities have reportedly implemented the existing regulations, according to spokesperson Jaswal. Kathmandu, April 23.

It has been understood that India’s decision to levy customs duties on goods exceeding NPR 100 in value brought into Nepal aims to curb smuggling and informal trade. Ranvijay Jaswal provided this information at the regular press briefing held on Thursday by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. “We are aware that Nepali authorities have already been enforcing the existing regulations. Reports indicate that customs duties are being collected from travelers carrying goods from India valued over NPR 100,” he stated. “Our understanding is that the Nepalese government has undertaken this measure mainly to control informal trade and smuggling.” However, the spokesperson also emphasized that there will be no obstruction for Nepali citizens importing goods for personal household use. He noted that Nepali officials have informed him that ordinary citizens carrying household goods for personal needs will not face impediments. Jaswal further confirmed that India continues to engage in ongoing communication with Nepal regarding this issue.

April 23, Kathmandu – On September 24, 2022, then-Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah and Land Problems Resolution Commission Chair Keshav Niraula reached an agreement to identify, survey, and certify landless Dalits, landless squatters, and residents of unauthorized settlements. However, the implementation of this agreement was delayed. On December 28, 2022, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City deployed bulldozers in the Thapathali area, leading to clashes between security personnel and local residents. The dispute has since escalated to the courts. The landless communities have expressed complaints that the municipality has breached the agreement by failing to follow through.

The number of applicants submitting requests to the Land Problems Resolution Commission from Kathmandu Metropolitan remains very low, with only 56 applications received to date. According to a report prepared three years ago by the Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee, the total number of landless Dalits, landless squatters, and residents of unauthorized settlements in Kathmandu stands at 2,245.

Since assuming office as Prime Minister, Balen Shah has begun focusing special attention on the unique issues faced by landless Dalits, landless squatters, and those living in unauthorized settlements. The cabinet has decided to conduct an integrated digital survey and certification of these groups nationwide within 60 days. Furthermore, the government has announced plans to provide land to genuine landless individuals or rehabilitate them through integrated housing solutions within 1,000 days.

Since taking charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Prime Minister Shah has issued directives to deploy bulldozers in landless and unauthorized settlements. Pawan Gurung, Vice President of the United National Squatters Front, stated, “We advocate for peaceful legal resolution through dialogue; however, the government has repeatedly broken agreements and deceived us.”

Stakeholders have welcomed the government’s decision to address land-related issues. The Nepali Women’s Unity Society commented, “The initiative to manage the landless, squatters, and unauthorized settlements is a positive step.” Nonetheless, legal professionals have expressed skepticism, labeling the government’s expectations as unrealistic.

In July 2023, the High Court of Patan directed authorities to develop a plan within six months and ordered the collection and certification of land surveys. The Accountability Monitoring Committee warned, “Forcibly evicting settlements under the direct order of the Prime Minister and deploying security forces in this manner violates Government Work Program No. 91 and flagrantly breaches the constitutional, legal, and human rights obligations toward landless and squatter communities.”

To facilitate land distribution to landless Dalits and squatters and to manage unauthorized settlements, the government established the Land Problems Resolution Commission under the Land Related Act. To date, 1,209,059 applicants have registered with the commission.

Senior Advocate Rajup Prasad Chapagain emphasized, “Human rights must not be seriously violated under the guise of protection and beautification.” Kathmandu Metropolitan City spokesperson Naveen Manandhar stated that discussions with the Chief District Officer will determine the final decision regarding settlement evacuations.

April 23, Kathmandu – Gajendra Kumar Thakur, the Director General of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation, has been transferred to the Ministry of Finance. A reliable source confirmed that on Thursday, the Finance Minister signed a high-level decision to move him from the department to the ministry. The transfer of Director General Thakur has drawn serious attention, especially as investigations involving the controversial businessman Deepak Bhatt remain ongoing. Thakur was originally appointed to lead the Department of Money Laundering Investigation during the tenure of the previous government headed by Prime Minister Sushila Karki.

Summary: After careful review and editorial evaluation, the Cabinet has decided not to allocate the Maharajgunj Police Academy land to the President’s Office. Instead, the land will continue to be used by the Nepal Police Training Academy as before. The Police Academy’s relocation attempt to Panauti was stalled due to forged land documents leading to lawsuits and government intervention to nationalize the land. Though the existing Maharajgunj Academy will remain, a new training facility is under construction in Panauti.

Kathmandu, April 23: Efforts to relocate the Nepal Police Training Academy from Maharajgunj to Panauti in Kavre, to provide additional facilities for the President’s Office, have failed. In a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the government reversed its earlier decision to transfer the Maharajgunj Police Academy land to the President’s Office. Previously, on September 6, 2018 (21 Bhadra 2075 BS), the Cabinet had resolved to hand over the 114 ropani 3 anna land to the President’s Office. However, the latest resolution states that instead of transferring the land to the President’s name, the entire property will continue to be used by the Police Training Academy.

The initial plan to move the Police Academy to Panauti with helicopter facilities was devised due to the limited space and accessibility constraints at the President’s residence, Sheetal Niwas. However, following objections from former police officials stressing the historic significance of the Maharajgunj site, the decision was postponed for a long time until the government recently finalized the reversal.

A new Police Academy is currently being constructed in Panauti. However, the relocation stalled because forged documentation related to government land in Panauti surfaced. Some locals had allegedly transferred the land in their name illegally, causing the project to be held up. Subsequently, the government launched an investigation, nationalized the land, and filed cases against those involved in the forgery.

Initially, the government had decided on July 31, 1995 (15 Shrawan 2052 BS) to allocate forest land in Kavre’s Sunthan area to the Nepal Police Training Academy. Since name registration had not been completed, the land was allowed only for usufruct use. Later, when local resident Puskar Bahadur Basnet attempted to register the land in his name, a case was filed against him. He was charged on December 12, 2023 (27 Mangsir 2080 BS), found guilty in January 2025 (Magh 2081 BS), but the Supreme Court quashed the case against him on January 6, 2024 (23 Magh 2080 BS).

An additional lawsuit was filed by seven individuals, including Santosh Sapkota from Panauti-11, claiming they had sold their share of land to the Police Training Academy without receiving payment. While district and appellate courts ruled in their favor, the Supreme Court ultimately declared on September 26, 2023 (9 Aswin 2080 BS) that the land belongs to the Police Training Academy.

Due to the nationalization of the Panauti land registered under individuals’ names, the earlier government decided to relocate the Maharajgunj Police Academy to Panauti and hand over the Maharajgunj land to the President’s Office. Despite this, the Maharajgunj Academy has not yet been shifted. Meanwhile, new structures and facilities are being built at the Panauti training institute.

The latest Cabinet decision confirms that the Nepal Police Training Academy will remain operational in Maharajgunj, while a new Police Training Academy will be established in Panauti.

The government has decided to evict landless Dalit–sukumvasi and informal settlers from their settlements. In opposition to this decision, a rally and protest are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Baishakh 10, starting from Thapathali and proceeding to Maitighar Mandal. Prime Minister Balen Shah had instructed the security chiefs on Baishakh 9 to clear the sukumvasi settlements.

To protest the government’s resolution to remove landless Dalit–sukumvasi and informal residents from the settlements, a rally is planned. It will commence from Thapathali settlement at 10 a.m. on Friday, moving towards Maitighar Mandal. The government has already begun public announcements since Thursday evening, urging residents to vacate settlements in Thapathali, Shankhamul, Shantinagar, and Manohara areas.

Reports indicate that bulldozers are expected to be deployed starting the morning of Baishakh 12. On Baishakh 9, Prime Minister Balen Shah convened security agency leaders and gave directives to clear the sukumvasi settlements. Approximately 1.2 million landless Dalit, landless sukumvasi, and informal settlers reside across the country. The government’s eviction efforts have caused fear and anxiety among the local inhabitants of these settlements.