Kathmandu Metropolitan City has deployed a bulldozer on Sunday, alleging that an illegal structure was built on the land of Guthi Sansthan in Thapathali. Last Friday, a shed where a garage was operated was also demolished.

On Sunday, a Metropolitan Police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Purna Chandra Bhatta came to demolish the traffic police division and the tents there in Thapathali. But Nepal Police and traffic were deployed in front of the police division since 10 am.

At that time, Kantipur contacted the head of the Valley Traffic Office, SP Nawaraj Adhikari. He said that his team has been living in Thapathali since 2030 BS and said that it would be difficult to move without an alternative. ‘It is the land of the Guthi, the traffic has been there since before,’ he said, ‘How is it possible to move it today without giving an alternative?’

Metropolitan Police stopped from demolishing the Thapathali traffic building after the administration wrote a letter

After preparing to remove the traffic police, the police officers had discussed with Chief District Officer Ishwar Raj Poudel. After that, the administration wrote a letter to the Metropolitan saying that it would not remove the police immediately. Only then did the Metropolitan Police Traffic Division back down from demolishing the hut and used a dozer on it.

Jay Upadhyay, a businessman in Marama, had rented land from Guthi Sansthan for 5 years and built a structure there. According to him, more than 60 lakhs were invested in the structure. He says that he lost everything when the structure was demolished.

Showing the agreement with Guthi Sansthan and the document showing regular rent payments, Upadhyay says, "I was given this land because it was vacant. Why is this injustice even if it is done according to the law? Who will compensate me for this?"

28-year-old Amit Mishra, who started an Iranian tea franchise in the same hut a month and a half ago, has been losing his appetite and sleep for the past few days. He is sad that the dozer was disturbing his business, which he started by spending 1.3 lakhs.

After drinking Iranian tea at Imadol, he liked its taste and decided to start a business too. He said that he started the business. ‘We started the business with my wife’s jewelry and loans. We were ruined,’ he says.

A few days ago, after learning that the city government would use a dozer here, he went to the city government and tearfully requested Senior City Police Superintendent Rajunath Pandey. He also assured that he would not demolish it. ‘Suddenly, on Saturday, they were called to evacuate everything again.’ Mishra said, ‘After Dashain, they came to demolish it when they said that business would resume after Dashain.’

He had been paying Rs 40,000 in rent per month. Mishra, who studied engineering, is regretting not going abroad to start his business. ‘Now, I don’t know who will pay our compensation,’ he says.

Guthi Sansthan says – ‘It should be demolished’

After the city police called to demolish it on Saturday, we contacted Guthi Sansthan. Neither the spokesperson of the Guthi Sansthan nor the administrator was aware of this.

Administrator Shailesh Kunwar said that the metropolis had not given them any information about the demolition. ‘This is the land of the Guthi Sansthan. The metropolis cannot demolish it. Earlier, when we coordinated with the metropolis, it was said that it would not be demolished,’ he told Kantipur on Saturday evening, ‘We do not know that it will be demolished. We understand.’ Till Sunday morning, Administrator Kunwar had said that they had no information and were trying to understand.

After 11 am, the employees of the Guthi Sansthan became mute spectators when the dozer was moving on the hut. Kunwar, who arrived in frustration as the dozer was moving, met the deputy superintendent of police Bhatta and asked, ‘Why was it demolished?’

Bhatta took him away from the crowd and spoke to him privately. Kunwar did not want to say anything to the journalists about this. He tried to argue by saying that he was not a member of the Guthi Sansthan.

The Metropolitan City says - 'We will build a park after demolishing'

Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhatta has said that the tent has now been demolished and the traffic office will also be demolished after some time.

'We will also demolish the barracks of our Metropolitan Police Force located behind. We will also systematically relocate the traffic police and demolish them,' he said, 'We have demolished the illegally constructed structures on the land surrounding the temple and cultural heritage.'

When asked by a journalist what will be built on the site where the tent is demolished, he said, 'A park will be built on the site where the tent is demolished.'