The police are staying in the building where the technician said, ”There is a risk, don't stay.” Inside the burned-out building without windows or doors, they continue to serve the public despite the fear and inconvenience.
"The burnt office is right next to the road. The building shakes when large vehicles pass by," said a police constable working at the Imadol Police Division. "There are no windows or doors in the building. We have put the toilet into use by putting up plastic fences."
The building of the Lalitpur Police Division, Imadol, was completely destroyed in a fire on Bhadra 24 during the Gen-G demonstration. After technicians said the building was uninhabitable, reconstruction work has not been done here while other police offices in Lalitpur are being built. The problems of the police deployed here seem to be the most serious than in other places.
Daily use items including windows, doors, tables and chairs have been destroyed. There is also a shortage of drinking water in the Imadol area. The police use water brought in tanks for cleaning and other purposes. ‘Even the drums burned. That is why it has become difficult to store the water they buy,’ said a policeman. ‘We are also forced to use water in bulk. The living conditions have become very chaotic.’
According to him, wind and rain splash water easily enter through the windows and doors. After the cleaning, the police are using the room in the building where the technician is not staying as a temporary barracks. This is a compulsion for the 39 police officers working here. They have not allowed the public service to decrease even if it is in this risky building until there is no other option. They say that they will continue to operate the service from here until a new location is found.
However, the police have also faced a challenge in protecting the weapons they have with them from this building. The police have said that it has been difficult to keep files and records safe after the building was damaged. Even service recipients who come to file complaints have been inconvenienced.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hovindra Bogati, Chief of Lalitpur District Police Range, Mahalaxmi Municipality has taken ownership of the building and has taken forward a plan to construct a new building. Currently, preparations are being made to house the police in a public building or a rented house and he believes that the problem will be resolved soon.
Ward Chairman of Mahalaxmi Municipality-1, Tshiring Lama, said that since the police office is located within his ward, the DPR work of the new structure is being completed this month. According to him, discussions are also underway on temporarily housing the police in a rented or community building.
‘The leadership of the Imadol Police Division is also active,’ said Chairman Lama, ‘In collaboration with the municipality, preparations are being made to build temporary accommodation and a long-term building with facilities. Even in cases where it is necessary to live on rent, the municipality will arrange the expenses.’
Not only the police, but also the locals tried to save this building built with the labor of the locals in 2070 BS. On that day, the police used mikes to explain and explain to the two groups and used force to disperse them. However, later, a group of unknown people, whom the locals did not see or recognize, came and set the building on fire, according to the police officers on duty. The police here were able to secure the necessary equipment, including weapons.
Although locals helped the police with various equipment, including uniforms, after the fire, the building reconstruction process has not yet begun due to legal procedures. Locals say that the respect for the police has increased as the police continue to serve even from the burned police building. They believe that this effort by the police has also increased the feeling of security.
