Gandaki: 172 vehicles torched, vandalized during last week’s protest

POKHARA: A total of 172 motor vehicles belonging to ministries and offices under the Government Province Government, as well as federal offices, were torched and vandalized during last week’s Gen Z protest in Pokhara.

Among these, 48 four-wheelers were completely burned, four were partially damaged and 120 two-wheelers were reduced to ashes, preliminary data shows.

On September 8, the first day of the protest, demonstrators targeted the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers in Pardi. The protest escalated the next day when demonstrators targeted several ministries and other government offices.

Protesters set fire to the Ministries of Social Development, Forest and Environment, Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport Management, Economic Affairs, Industry and Tourism, and Energy, Water Resources and Water Supply. They also looted different items from these ministries.

The Chief Minister’s residence and the provincial library in the Chief Minister’s office were also burned. Seven motorcycles and three scooters at the Chief Minister’s office were torched and vandalized, while four-wheelers were moved to the nearby Gandaki Province Police Office for safekeeping.

At the Ministry of Forest and Environment, four vehicles and one from the Forest Directorate were set on fire, while another vehicle was damaged in vandalism. Eight motorcycles and four scooters at the ministry were also burned. The accounts and registration sections were destroyed, stores were vandalized, and laptops, refrigerators and other items were stolen. The minister’s secretariat and office were completely vandalized.

Similarly, five four-wheelers and twelve two-wheelers at the Ministry of Social Development, Youth and Sports were set on fire. The ministry building itself was burned, and vandalism occurred at the subordinate Social Development Office and Gandaki University. All rooms in the Sports Division were burned, the auditorium was damaged and all computers in the accounts section were stolen.

Similarly, at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport Management, six four-wheelers and 27 two-wheelers were burned. Other offices under the ministry, like the Urban Development and Building Office and the Infrastructure Development Office, were vandalized. The Transport Management Office, including both the driving license and vehicle departments, was completely set on fire. A total of Rs 442,000 collected as government revenue was looted.

At the Ministry of Economic Affairs, three four-wheelers and six two-wheelers were burned. The ground floor of the ministry was vandalized and partially burned. Doors and windows were destroyed, the auditorium burned, and the minister’s office was vandalized. Three laptops, two computers and two printers were stolen from the office.

Likewise, one four-wheeler and one two-wheeler at the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives were torched by protesters

At the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Water Supply, four vehicles were burned, and one four-wheeler each at the Tanahun Drinking Water Office and Kaski Water Resources Office were vandalized. Eighteen motorcycles under the ministry were set on fire.

Although the building of the Ministry of Health did not suffer any physical damage, three scooters were burned on its premises.

Four four-wheelers and five motorcycles at the Ministry of Tourism and Industry were completely burned, and the directorate building was fully destroyed.

At the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission, three vehicles and four motorcycles were set on fire. Similarly, four four-wheelers and three motorcycles, as well as two private motorcycles, were burned at the Office of the Province Chief. The Province Chief’s residence in Simalchaur was also completely destroyed.

At the Provincial Public Service Commission in Mustang Chowk, four four-wheelers and one two-wheeler were torched. The arson has caused an estimated loss of Rs 2.9 million to the commission.

The Gandaki Provincial Assembly building in Nadipur was vandalized by protesters. The provincial assembly secretariat, parliamentary party offices, committee offices, residential buildings and library were all reduced to ashes. Six four-wheelers and twelve two-wheelers belonging to the provincial assembly were set on fire. Additionally, 39 desktop computers, 19 laptops, five video cameras, 35 printers/copiers, nine television screens and 44 air conditioners were destroyed by fire.

Meanwhile, the Gandaki Province Government has urged protesters to return the looted items safely. “The identity of those returning stolen items will be kept confidential. However, anyone refusing to comply will be identified through CCTV footage and photographs, and necessary legal action will be taken,” Ramesh Dhakal, Secretary of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, said.