Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said that a clash ensued with security personnel during last September’s Gen Z protest after Sudan Gurung of Hami Nepal organization took leadership of the protesting crowd.
The protest claimed 76 lives and caused financial losses of nearly Rs 85 billion.
According to the investigation report made public by the NHRC on Wednesday, the demonstrators became infuriated after Gurung took leadership, breached the security barricades, and attempted to enter the restricted zone, which then escalated into a confrontation, clash, and riot with security personnel.
“The rally, which initially started within the boundaries permitted by the Chief District Officer with an estimated 3,000 to 3,200 participants, soon breached those limits and moved past Babarmahal and the Bijulibazar bridge to arrive in front of the Everest Hotel in New Baneshwor,” the report states. “Following this, the number of demonstrators swelled to 20,000–25,000. Around the same time, a biker group of 15-20 individuals wearing black t-shirts with ‘TOB’ written on them, and sporting ‘TOB’ tattoos on their arms and bodies, arrived and incited the crowd. Once the crowd of roughly 20,000 to 25,000 had gathered in front of the Everest Hotel, Gurung of Hami Nepal took leadership of the crowd at around 12 pm. It appears that after Gurung assumed leadership, the protestors grew angry, broke through the security barricades, and tried to enter the prohibited area, leading to a confrontation and clash with security forces that turned into a riot.”
The report added that security personnel resorted to using tear gas and water cannons only after the situation escalated into a confrontation and clash.
Furthermore, the report states that the biker group hijacked the peaceful protest of the Gen Z movement. “They used the Gen Z students as human shields while pelting stones at security forces, and attacked and committed arson at the Parliament building,” the report added.
Stating that the TOB group was clearly involved in provoking the demonstrators, the report has called for further investigation into the actual identity and background of the biker group of 15-20 members sporting TOB tattoos.
The report also reveals that a dispute broke out at Maitighar between the protest coordinators, including Rakshya Bam and Jasmine Ojha, and Gurung of Hami Nepal on September 8. The dispute reportedly ignited after they saw that arrangements for tents, ambulances, and miking had been made at the protest site.
“At around 9 am, when the group of coordinators calling themselves Gen Z leaders, including Rakshya Bam and Jasmine Ojha, arrived, they saw that Gurung of Hami Nepal had arranged tents, health volunteers, three ambulances, and a sound system. Seeing this, the group, including Rakshya Bam and Jasmine Ojha, argued with Sudhan Gurung for some time and even asked him to withdraw from the protest,” the report said.
