Abhimanyu Pandey can be seen in a video that has been released, kicking and vandalizing the statue of martyr Lakhan Thapa. He was also involved in cooperative fraud earlier.
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A Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) cadre has been arrested on charges of inciting a mob and setting fire to personal property during a protest in Pokhara on Bhadra 10. Police arrested Abhimanyu Pandey, alias Bikram, a resident of Nayabazar, Pokhara, whose permanent residence is Tripurasundari Rural Municipality-6 in Dhading on Tuesday.
He was arrested for investigation into whether he was involved in vandalism of personal property. He is accused of inciting a mob to burn the house of Gandaki Province's Minister for Social Development, Youth and Sports Bindu Kumar Thapa.
DSP Hari Bahadur Basnet, Information Officer of the District Police Office, Kaski, said that he was arrested after a complaint was filed with the police for investigation. Basnet said that he will be investigated for criminal harassment. The police have filed the same case against those involved in vandalism and arson during the Gen-G movement and demonstration.
Pandey is one of those who demolished the statue of martyr Lakhan Thapa at Prithvi Chowk in Pokhara on Bhadra 24. He was involved in the campaign to install a statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah at Prithvi Chowk. A group called Rashtra Gaurav Abhiyan, most of whose office bearers and members are close to the RPP, was formed two and a half years ago. This group advocated for the statue of Shah to be placed at Prithvi Chowk. Pandey was the co-secretary of this campaign.
After repeated attempts to remove the statue of Lakhan Thapa failed, Pandey and others vandalized the statue during a protest near the RPP. While demolishing the statue of the martyr, he wore the national flag on his shoulder. Along with him, National Democratic Youth Organization Kaski President Rajesh Pokharel is also seen involved in vandalizing the statue.
The police have also taken into custody RPP central member Arjun Khanal. Khanal, who went to pressure the police to release RPP cadre Pandey after he was arrested, has been taken into custody by the police. SP Navin Karki said that Khanal has been taken into custody for questioning.
The police are preparing to release RPP leader Khanal today.
Pandey will remain in police custody. He is also involved in cooperative fraud. He was arrested in 2081 after the struggling savings and loan cooperative organization of which he is the president was found to have misappropriated funds. He spent six months in jail after failing to pay the bail demanded by the Kaski District Court. He was later released from prison after posting a land as a bail.
