Police-immigration officer clash: Three police personnel transferred from TIA

KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Valley Police Office has transferred three Nepal Police personnel who were recommended for departmental action following a fight between police personnel and an immigration officer at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) a fortnight ago.

Sources say that the three have been transferred to the police headquarters and will not be assigned any responsibilities until the investigation is completed.

CCTV footage shows police personnel manhandling immigration officer Chhayalal Moktan at TIA on January 26. Although police have maintained that the clash ensued when Moktan attacked police personnel on duty after they insisted he undergo a security check, a probe committee formed by the home ministry found Sub-Inspector Sanjaya Tamang, and Constables Rabi Ranjan Gupta and Raj Kumar Mahato guilty and recommended departmental action against them.

Deputy Inspector General Arjun Chand Thakuri, the chief of the TIA Security Office, had objected to the recommendations. He argued that police personnel following security protocol should be rewarded instead of punished. He later tendered his resignation. However, he withdrew his resignation under pressure from Inspector General Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, who happens to be his batchmate.

DIG Thakuri is currently on leave citing personal reasons.