Following the Gen-G movement on Bhadra 23, the police circle at Satdobato was also set on fire during the protest on Bhadra 24. When the police, who had reached the army barracks and were safe, returned the next day, a crowd of locals was already visible at the circle.

Some locals were cleaning up with brooms, others were collecting burnt items. ‘What should we feed the police? How should we manage the burnt clothes and housing?’ The discussion was going on in the community. The police, who returned to the office with fear, anxiety and confidence, became emotional after seeing this scene.

‘After being in a situation where we were about to die, we went to a safe place with our weapons, some case files and a computer,’ a policeman recalled. ‘When we returned the next day, we were very emotional when we saw that the local people were cleaning up before the police.’

Policemen from Baneshwor Circle are working in public service even while sleeping on the floor of a narrow room.

Police Circle Satdobato is the first police office to return to its former state of community activity after the damage. Later, other locals also followed suit. However, the police division under it, Imadol, is still operating in a risky situation. The police there are providing services from a dilapidated building without windows and doors. Even the toilets have been put into use with plastic fences.

Police from this circle were deployed on duty in various places since the morning of Bhadra 24. Some at Pushpa Kamal Dahal's residence, some around the Nepali Congress party office, and some in the Balkumari area. The police deployed in Satdobato in the morning sent back about 10 groups that were vandalizing their office, and the office was temporarily saved. Locals also supported the circle.

However, around 3 pm, outsiders, unknown to even the locals, came and started attacking. The group that had earlier set fire to the nearby Satdobato Traffic Police Office, started pelting stones and setting fire to Satdobato Circle. The police and locals were unable to convince the protesters, who were in a crowd of thousands.

Imadol Police Division: Building burned, public service not stopped

Despite lathicharge, tear gas and air firing to control the situation, it could not be brought under control. Finally, the police, keeping their weapons safe for self-defense, took the office vehicle and took shelter in the nearby army barracks. They tried to go to the police station in Lalitpur, but the crowd of protesters prevented them from reaching it, so they went to the army barracks.

‘The fire had already broken out, and there was no way the fire brigade could come,’ a police officer recalled. ‘Since there was no possibility of additional force, we went out with weapons, essential documents, and technology equipment.’

The police were unable to save the vehicles and mess materials in the parking lot. During the attack, more than a dozen police motorcycles, mess materials, and personal belongings were also burned. According to the police, the protesters had set fire to the office and also looted it. The police had also released 44 detainees who were in custody at the time after the fire started.

The police station, which was left empty after the fire, is returning to its former glory with the support of the local community. At that time, the locals provided 96 sets of daily necessities, including soap, brushes, and other items for all the police officers working in the station. The office has been painted, plumbed and repaired with electricity thanks to the community's initiative.

The circle has now resumed regular service with computer connections, informed Deputy Superintendent of Police Purnima Kumari Chand, Chief of Police Circle Satdobato Lalitpur. According to her, the reconstruction of tables, drawers, chairs, etc. that were not usable after burning was also done with the help of locals.