The security apparatus of Koshi Province has been activated as weapons and ammunition stolen from the police office during the Gen-G protest on Bhadra 24 have been found abandoned in various places. The police are gradually recovering the weapons hidden in riverbeds, tea gardens and bush areas.

On Sunday afternoon, an INSAS rifle magazine and three rounds of Mark 3 rifle bullets were found in a tea garden in Sialdangi, Birtamod Municipality-6. According to the police, the recovered magazine and bullets were looted from the goods storage room of the Area Police Office, Anarmani (Birtamod) during the Gen-G movement.

A gas gun looted from the Area Police Office, Damak, has also been recovered. The gas gun, bearing number 238169, was recovered from the banks of the Geuria River near Dhanprasad Marg in Kamal Rural Municipality-5. The weapon, which was found in a rusty and burnt condition along with the butt and muzzle, was duly recovered and kept at the Area Police Office, Damak, according to the district police.

Two weapons and some bullets looted from Damak on November 3 were found in a cave in Miklajung village of Panchthar. The weapons found included a 303 Mark-3 rifle with a magazine, a burnt INSAS butt and hand-grip, one INSAS combat round and three SLR combat rounds, according to the police. 

On November 26, police arrested two people with 54 rounds of guns looted from the Area Police Office, Birtamod, during the Gen-G demonstration. 38 rounds of SLR and 16 rounds of INSAS rifle were recovered from a room in Ramchok, Birtamod Municipality-2. 

Earlier on Kartik 19, an INSAS rifle with the number 031100872, its magazine, 19 unfired rounds and a box of 2 spent rounds were found in a Simal taro bush near Toribari in Sugam Shanti Tol, Birtamod Municipality-6. The gun was looted from the Area Police Office, Anarmani.

According to the Koshi Provincial Police Office, Biratnagar, a total of 22 weapons were looted from the police offices of Damak and Birtamod during the Gen-G demonstration. Of these, half a dozen weapons have been recovered so far, while the search for the rest has been intensified.

Provincial Police Office, Koshi, spokesperson SSP Deepak Pokharel said that the looted weapons are still being found and claimed that the remaining weapons will be recovered within a few days. ‘We have information that the weapons have been hidden, and the search is ongoing,’ he said.

43 cases, 108 arrested, 129 still absconding

Detainees who escaped from police custody by taking advantage of the protests have also started being arrested in recent days. Lukhiram Baske, 25, of Gauradaha Municipality-1 was arrested in Gauradaha on Poush 5. Sanjeev Limbu, 26, of Kamal Rural Municipality-5 was also arrested on the same day.

Similarly, Angdawa Sherpa, 25, of Laligurans Municipality-4 in Tehrathum was taken into custody from Damak-6 on Monday, according to the police. All three had escaped from the custody of the Area Police Office, Damak during the protests.

The number of cases registered against people involved in violent activities including arson, vandalism, and armed robbery in various districts of Koshi Province during the Gen-G protests and demonstrations has reached 43.

According to the details given by the Koshi Province Police Office, 43 cases have been registered in Morang, Jhapa, Sunsari and Ilam. The highest number of cases has been registered in Morang, while 24 cases have been registered in Jhapa, 1 in Sunsari and 3 in Ilam.

According to the registered cases, 108 people have been arrested so far. However, 129 of the total accused involved in the case are still absconding. Among the absconding, 73 are from Morang, 53 from Jhapa, 1 from Sunsari and 2 from Ilam. Police records mention that a woman is also absconding.

Of the arrested, 19 people have been sent to jail for remand in Jhapa and 3 in Morang, while the others have been released on ordinary dates.

As the elections approach, security challenges are increasing.

As the upcoming election on Falgun 21 approaches, the question of security challenges has begun to arise as a large number of those directly involved in the Gen-G movement are still absconding. The fact that not all the looted weapons have been found, the absconding accused are able to move freely, and the violent background in the past has raised concerns about whether the election will be held peacefully.

However, the police claim that the situation is under control. SSP Deepak Pokharel, spokesperson for the Koshi Province Police Office, claimed that there is no major security challenge from the absconding accused.

‘We do not expect that there will be a security challenge from those who are hiding, hoping that the police will find them,’ he said, ‘However, we are serious.’