The commission of inquiry formed to investigate the incidents that took place during the Gen-G movement has begun taking statements from relevant individuals. The commission is focusing on the incidents of 23 and 24 Bhadra.

The statement that started on Sunday is being prepared to be continued for two weeks, from police constables to former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

The commission, which was given about three months, spent the first month searching for the names of those deployed in the field during the movement from the police to those in charge. However, the commission received the complete details of the police only on Thursday.

The commission had earlier taken the statements of Nakkhu Prison Chief Satyaraj Joshi, National Independent Party President Rabi Lamichhane, who is being held in Nakkhu Prison for pre-trial detention, and the commission team had also visited Nakkhu Prison.

The inquiry commission led by former Special Court Chairman Gauri Bahadur Karki had started the Kathmandu-focused investigation by taking the statement of Nakkhu Prison Chief Satyaraj Joshi on Sunday. Chairman of the inquiry commission Karki said that after studying the situation in various districts, the investigation and interrogation focused on Kathmandu has now been started.

On 5 Asoj, the Council of Ministers formed a three-member inquiry commission under the chairmanship of former Special Court President and former Judge Karki. Two members of the commission are Vigyanraj Sharma and BP Bhandari. During the Gen-G movement, 76 people died in police firing, prison break escapes, arson and police-related incidents.

A large number of government, private and commercial structures were looted and arsoned. The commission had visited heavily damaged areas across the country before starting its Kathmandu-focused investigation.

List of police constables to IGPs to be summoned for statements

According to Commission Chairman Karki, the list of the inquiry commission includes names of police constables to IGPs who were deployed in the field on 23 and 24 Bhadra. He said that the commission now has a daily work schedule to take statements due to the lack of time.

The commission spent a month on the 23rd to obtain the list of police personnel and officers deployed from Maitighar Mandala to Tinkune and other important places, and there is no time to delay, said Chairman Karki, claiming that there is no time to delay now. ‘The list has been received. Now it will be a rush of statements,’ said Chairman Karki. ‘The commission will take statements from everyone connected to the Gen-G incident within the jurisdiction it has acquired. The law does not exempt anyone.’

The commission is preparing to take statements from those deployed in the field of the police, armed forces and other security bodies, from commanders, responsible levels and those who give instructions. In the first phase, the commission is preparing to take statements from the police personnel deployed in the field about how the shooting situation was created on the 23rd and how it turned into sabotage on the 24th.

After the security personnel deployed in the field, the commission is preparing to reach the police leadership, from the officers who give instructions to them, up to the IGP, and to take statements from members of the Security Council and Chief District Officers.

The commission is preparing to record the statements of the then Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, police officers, Home Secretary, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The commission has not yet formulated a procedure for investigating the vandalism, looting and arson of government and private structures including Parliament, Singha Durbar, Supreme Court, President's House, Prime Minister's House, hotels, media houses, Bhatbhateni on 24 Bhadra and calling those involved for statements.

Initially, the commission said that it would take statements about the incident on 23 and the damage to government structures, and then work on the damage to personal property. In this context, the commission recorded the statements of some police officers on Friday.

The statement of DSP Eliza Giri, who was deployed as the commander of the Parliament Building in New Baneshwor on the first day of the Gen-G movement, has been recorded. Similarly, the statement of DSP Madhu Kumar Thapa of Kalimati Circle has been recorded. The commission had asked about how the protesters entered the Parliament Building on 23 and shots were fired.

DSP Sundar Tiwari's statement was recorded on Thursday. Similarly, the commission has called the then SP of Kathmandu Police Apilraj Bohora for a statement. After that, it is preparing to take the statements of the then Kathmandu Police Chief SSP Bishwa Adhikari and Valley Police Chief AIG Dan Bahadur Karki and others and reach the Inspector General of Police.

What did Ravi and Joshi say about the Nakkhu incident?

The commission started taking statements from Nakkhu Prison Chief Satyaraj Joshi. Then, the detained Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh President Lamichhane was called to the office and his statement was recorded.

Joshi was asked how the situation that day led to the prison vandalism and the release of prisoners. How did some prisoners escape and questions were asked about the prisoners including Sanjay Sah, who was found to be the main planner of the Janakpur bomb attack, from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh President Lamichhane.

Joshi said that in Lamichhane's case, the process of handing over the case to the family was followed, he was pressured to sign the letter and was forced to sign because his life was in danger.

He claimed that some prisoners were handed over and sent away due to insecurity as the protests grew, and most of the prisoners escaped.

IGP found to have failed to cooperate, fined Rs 500

The commission had written a letter to the police in the second week of Asoj to provide details of those deployed in the field on 23 and 24. When the Police Headquarters did not respond, the commission prepared a letter in the name of Chairman Karki. A fine of Rs 500 was also proposed to the IGP for continuous non-cooperation in the investigation.