POKHARA: Gen Z protests have left much of Pokhara’s government offices and private establishments in ruins.
The protesters went on a rampage, vandalizing and setting public and private establishments on fire. The fire destroyed important documents, furniture, and equipment in these offices. Some offices were still emitting smoke on Wednesday morning. Locals gathered to witness the aftermath, while the air remained thick with smoke from Tuesday’s fires.
During the protests, the arson extended from the Gandaki Provincial Assembly building to the Office of the Chief Minister and the District Administration Office, Kaski. Most federal, provincial, and district-level government offices in Pokhara were set on fire. Protesters also targeted the homes of political leaders, including Mayor Dhanraj Acharya and Gandaki’s Minister for Social Development, Youth and Sports, Bindu Kumar Thapa.
The residences of former Gandaki Chief Ministers Khagaraj Acharya (Pokhara) and Krishnachandra Nepali Pokharel (Nawalpur), as well as former MP and CPN-UML leader Rajeev Pahari’s house in Lakeside, were also set on fire. Minister Thapa, who entered politics from business, suffered the heaviest losses. His businesses, including Anshubhara Resort, Bagaincha Resort, Mantra Thakali Hotel and a shop selling KTM products in Hallanchok, were almost destroyed. Anshubhara Resort was inaugurated just a few months ago by Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba.
Fires also destroyed Thapa’s residence in Nayabazaar and his brother Dhruv Thapa’s property. The Hotel Sarovar in Lakeside was also set ablaze, as was the Goodwill Hotel in Hallanchok.
Protesters vandalized and set fire to the Gandaki Provincial Assembly Secretariat in Nadipur, including the training office within the assembly complex.
Buildings, including the District Administration Office, Provincial Policy and Planning Commission, Gandaki Provincial Chief’s Office, Pokhara Valley Development Committee, Land Revenue Office, and District Coordination Committee, were all vandalized and set on fire. Crucial documents, including blank and printed citizenship papers and national identity cards, were burned or strewn across the grounds of the District Administration Office. Several government offices, including the Kaski District Court, the Pokhara High Court, and the Public Service Commission office, also lost important documents in the fires.
One employee said protesters targeted the room containing Ravi Lamichhane’s file at the Pokhara High Court. Damage to the Kaski District Court was even more extensive. The ward police office in front of the court was also damaged.
Protesters also attacked and set fire to the Ministry of Forests and Environment, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, the Inland Revenue Office, the CPN-UML Gandaki Province office and the CPN-UML Kaski district office. The district office of Nepali Congress in Chipledhunga was also vandalized.
In addition, Pokhara Metropolitan City, as well the Ward 8 office in New Road, the Ward 5 office in Malepatan, the Ward 3 office in Nadipur, the Ward 1 office in Bagar, the Ward 12 office in Banjhapatan, the Ward 15 office in Kolpatan, the Ward 11 office in Phulbari, the Ward 2 office in Bindhyabasini and the Ward 4 office in Ganesh Tol were vandalized and set on fire.
Protesters also set the New Road-based Bhat-Bhateni store on fire. Smoke was billowing from the building till Wednesday morning. The District Police Office in Gairapatan was also set on fire after detainees were evacuated.
Additionally, prisoners in Kaski District Jail were freed during the protests. Protesters freed 773 inmates and set parts of the correction facility on fire.
