There are many residential settlements in the area under the jurisdiction of the Police Circle Swayambhu. This circle, built on the initiative of the locals on the land of the Guthi, was not in a grand building from the beginning. For years, the police had been providing services mostly in temporary structures.

It was a simple barracks to protect from the sun and rain. The service was provided continuously by organizing the available structures as much as possible with a simple mess and simple methods. But this same building was burned down on Bhadra 24 during the Gen-G demonstration. Locals have helped to restore the burned building to its original state.

On the morning of Bhadra 24, rallies and demonstrations had started in various places in Kathmandu after the incidents of the 23rd. Police officers from Swayambhu Circle were also deployed for security in various places. On that day, the instructions of the Police Headquarters were - 'Do not show force, use lathicharge or tear gas only to control the crowd.'

Protesters had been trying to sabotage the circle since morning. The situation was under control after locals also supported the police. But after 3 pm, the crowd got beyond the control of the police. Three policemen were injured and were forced to open fire in self-defense. The police left the circle when it seemed that more damage could be done as the crowd grew. By then, the protesters had already demolished the police compound and gate.

After the police left the circle, the personal belongings of the policemen inside the barracks were stolen and looted. Along with the building, five vehicles (one large vehicle and four small vans) used for transporting detainees and for office purposes were burned. Missiles, documents and old files were also burned. The protesters also snatched important police equipment and weapons.

The policemen who left the circle on the 24th to avoid human casualties returned to public service on the 25th. Since Swayambhu is a residential area, they thought that the safety of the people should be prioritized. Ward No. 15 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Wards No. 1 to 8 of Nagarjuna Municipality fall under this circle. There are dense residential settlements in the areas of Dallu, Bhagwanpau, Sitapaila and others.

After the police returned, the locals also spontaneously came to help. Some carried brooms to clean up, while others provided financial and material support for the reconstruction of gates, walls and buildings. The protesters had also broken toilet taps, pans and other materials. Therefore, along with cleaning, priority was given to plumbing work. Drinking water was arranged.

‘On the first day, the locals even brought food from home and fed us. After two days of hard work, a mess where food could be cooked and eaten was operational within the circle,’ said a policeman.

Since there was no well-equipped building in the first place, the expectations of the police working here are not high. They are worried about how to provide easy justice to those who are suffering.

‘Providing a good working environment for the police has become the main challenge now. Although morale was somewhat low at the time due to the protests, the support of the citizens and society has given us renewed courage. With that energy, we are now engaged in reconstruction,' said Mohan Mani Adhikari, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Police Circle Swayambhu, 'When citizens in distress come to the police office, they should feel warmth and trust. If the condition of the police building is critical, it will also have a negative impact on the people.'

According to him, citizens who come with the expectation of a solution to the problem lose morale when they see the collapsed and burnt police building and the suffering of the police. He added, 'My wish is that the people should get clean water, a place to live and privacy. For that, an investment of crores of rupees is required. Currently, the barracks and mess are not well-organized, but we are trying to return to the previous rhythm.'