Former Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah threatened to set ablaze the Singha Durbar—the Nepali prime minister’s office—after the police stopped a car of the municipality for questioning for operating on a holiday on September 2, 2023. The car was carrying Balen’s wife, Sabeena Kafle.
Two years later, during the RSP-backed Gen Z movement against the Oli government, the anarchists burned down the Singha Durbar on September 9, 2025.
Balen is set to take the oath as prime minister on March 27, 2026, and go to Singha Durbar to enjoy the privileges.
Sudan Gurung, the founder of Hami Nepal, which organized the demonstration on September 8, will take an oath as a member of the House of Representatives.
Mayor threatens to set Singha Durbar ablaze
The Sushila Karki-led interim government estimated that at least 2,671 buildings were destroyed, burned, and looted and 12,659 cars were set ablaze on September 8-9, 2025, causing a loss of Rs. 84.45 billion. In the two days, 77 people, including 22 protesters and 10 runaway prisoners, were killed. Only 45 of them were declared martyred. The list includes 20+ protesters, who were killed while looting and vandalizing different establishments.
Leaked probe report holds Oli, Lekhak liable to prosecution
The report of the judicial commission formed to investigate the September Gen Z protests states that the Nepali Army had prior information that the September 8 demonstration could see dangerous escalation.
Although the report submitted by the former judge of the Special Court, Gauri Bahadur Karki, would be made public by the interim government led by Sushila Karki, it surfaced through various media outlets on Wednesday.
Now it seems that the Balen Shah-led government will prosecute the former government officials and hold revenge trials, release the people arrested for violence, and issue an indemnity order.
After the report’s unauthorised publication, the government on Wednesday evening decided to release not only the Karki commission’s findings but also the reports of High-Level Investigation Commission on the Nepal Child Organisation and Balmandir, 2020, along with the Good Governance Roadmap, 2025, prepared by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
During questioning by the commission, Chief of Army Staff Sigdel stated that he had received information a day before the protests that the movement could intensify. According to the report, at a meeting of the Central Security Committee held on September 7, they were informed by the National Investigation Department and other security agencies that the protests could escalate.
However, Sigdel also noted in his statement that no meeting of the National Security Council had been convened at that time, which meant that strategic-level discussions could not take place.
The responsibility of convening the National Security Council lies with the prime minister.
Who are named?
The commission’s report, obtained by the Kathmandu Post, also recommends criminal proceedings against political and top security leadership, while proposing departmental action against several senior police officials. Those named include Additional Inspector General of Nepal Police Siddhi Bikram Shah, Deputy Inspector General of Nepal Police Om Bahadur Rana, then chief of the Kathmandu District Police Range Bishwa Adhikari (currently DIG), then Senior Superintendent of Police at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office Dip Shumsher Rana, and Superintendent of Police Rishiram Kandel.
From the Armed Police Force, the commission has recommended action against Additional Inspector General Narayan Datta Paudel, who served as the then operations commander; Deputy Inspector General Suresh Kumar Shrestha, then Kathmandu Brigade chief; and Superintendent of Police Jiban KC, who was stationed at the Disaster Rescue Unit in Sinamangal.
The report takes a sterner position against the heads of the security agencies at the time, recommending separate criminal proceedings against then Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung, APF Inspector General Raju Aryal, and then chief of the National Investigation Department Hut Raj Thapa.
From the NID, those recommended for action include Joint Director of the Valley Operations Division Krishna Prasad Khanal and Joint Research Director and Kathmandu District Chief Riben Kumar Gachhadar.
The commission has also recommended action against four Nepali Army officers responsible for security at key state installations.
They include Brigadier General Manoj Kumar Baidawar, who headed security at the President’s residence, Shital Niwas; Lieutenant Colonel Diwakar Khadka, in charge of security at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar; and Lieutenant Colonel Ganesh Khadka, who led security at the Singha Durbar Secretariat and also served as a member of the District Security Committee.
Lieutenant Colonel Santosh Dhungel, who headed the security team deployed at the Parliament building premises, has also been recommended for action.
The commission has advised that action be taken against them in accordance with the Nepali Army Act, Nepal Police Act, Armed Police Force Act and Special Service Act.