Police Circle Chief Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Madhu Kumar Thapa, despite being injured during the protest, has managed to secure his weapons and team.
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Locals are busy rebuilding two buildings in Kathmandu's Kalimati Police Circle that were damaged by fire and vandalism during the Gen-G movement. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Madhu Kumar Thapa, the chief of Kalimati Police Circle, has managed to secure his weapons and team despite being injured during the movement.
During the protest, 58 rooms of two buildings were burnt down in the arson attack at the Kalimati Police Circle. It is estimated that the damage was more than one crore rupees. Now, reconstruction has started on the initiative of the locals.
DSP Thapa was deployed at Maitighar Mandala on the day of the protest on Bhadau 23. He was injured in his right leg when he was hit with a rod while controlling the protest.
‘There was a problem in the muscle, the doctor had told him to rest for 10 days,’ he said, ‘but on the morning of the 24th, after receiving news of the fire in Kalimati, I reached there with a team.’
Thapa said that the police had to use tear gas and lathicharge to control the protest. ‘The crowd had gone out of control, the protesters broke the gate and set motorcycles and cars on fire,’ he recalled, ‘Most of the 192 motorcycles had burnt down.’
According to Thapa, even the police uniforms were burnt while trying to put out the fire. ‘It seemed like there was not only petrol but also chemicals in the glass bottle, it was very difficult to put out the fire,’ he said.
He said that when the protest intensified, there was even an attempt to seize weapons. ‘We kept all the weapons safe and took them to the Kathmandu Police Complex with a team,’ he said.
Thapa, who has experience in previous protests, says, ‘The experience of being deployed in the Madhesh and Tharu protests also saved us from major damage this time.’
After the incident, locals formed a Civil Protection Committee to re-operate the police circle. Representatives of the community have come forward under the leadership of the committee.
‘Locals have collected all the materials for operating the mess, from the water, mess utensils, food, etc.,’ said Thapa.
So far, the committee has spent more than Rs. 4 million on work including windows, doors, wiring, painting, etc.
Materials required for office purposes such as computers, tables, and drawers have also been obtained from the community.
5 bits and 3 divisions under Kalimati Police Circle have resumed operations since 25th.
DSP Thapa said, 'All the police are now engaged in public service. But since the physical infrastructure and important documents were burnt, it will take some time to completely return to the old rhythm.'
