The year 2082 was a memorable year for the police. This year, the police, who had come closer to the citizens through the 'Police My Friend' campaign, were chased by the citizens themselves.

They were made half-naked and jumped into rivers including the Bagmati to save their lives. Even then, the protesters did not stop and pelted stones. The officers of the Police Circle, New Baneshwor, had to deal with this situation the next day after 19 people were killed in police firing during the Gen-G movement on 23 Bhadra.

According to the Police Headquarters, 629 police offices across the country were vandalized and set on fire in the two days of the Gen-G movement. More than 560 additional police buildings, which were still under construction and destroyed during the Maoist armed conflict, were partially damaged.

1,342 weapons and 118,525 rounds of ammunition belonging to the police and the Armed Police Force were looted. Of these, only 745 weapons and 28,068 bullets were returned. Almost every police building was set on fire. However, the police returned to their posts after shaking off the ashes.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Bahadur Karki has written a song about how the police rose from this situation, ‘Ama ma ta kharanibat uthe aaen...’

When this song was released on 6 Magh, along with a lyrical drama of police personnel who were made half-naked in the demolition of 24 Bhadra and walking with their hands raised, the police officers present shed tears.

However, on 21 Falgun, the police sent a message that they had risen from the ashes by conducting the elections for the House of Representatives peacefully. The parties had previously doubted the election, citing the low morale of the police. Some had analyzed that violence could occur in the elections due to prisoners who escaped during the Gen-G movement and looted weapons. However, the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department, along with the police, conducted the elections peacefully. The then Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal says, ‘We emerged from that situation and held the elections without shedding a single drop of blood.’ However, in every previous election, there had been some kind of election-related incident, including booth capture and clashes.

There was no such incident in this election, which was held under different circumstances. In fact, there was no incident this time even in Dolakha, where violence has occurred in every election since 2048.

Although the six months after the Genji movement were one of the most challenging times in history for the police, the organization has proven itself through its work, says Bhim Prasad Dhakal, former Additional Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal Police.

‘The police is an organization that has always been praised by international bodies for investigating crimes. However, the latest incident has raised questions about the people's trust,' he says, 'but, in a short time, it has been confirmed that the police are the organization that the people need at all times and are worthy.' According to

officials, after major protests, there was always a tendency to distrust the police as a mechanism of the old regime. However, they say that the police are working by considering the government led by senior leader of the National Independent Party (RSWP) Balendra Shah and the feelings of the entire citizen.

‘The government formed after such a movement always viewed the police with suspicion, but this time the police initially arrested former Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak,’ says a current Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). ‘The message has been sent through this that the police do not belong to any government or party, but only follow the instructions given in accordance with the law.’

The first meeting of the Council of Ministers held immediately after Shah became Prime Minister had decided to implement the report of the commission formed to investigate the incidents of 23 and 24 Bhadra.

Oli and Lekhak were arrested after the Ministry of Home Affairs sent the report to the Police Headquarters asking them to implement it. The investigation process was taken forward for a criminal offence as recommended by the commission. They have now been released on bail after being kept in custody for 15 days. The investigation is still ongoing. From controversial businessman Deepak Bhatta to former minister Deepak Khadka, they were arrested for investigating money laundering.

‘In the past, there was extreme interference from the political leadership in the police, and its impact was also visible in criminal investigations,’ says former DIG Hemanta Malla Thakuri, ‘If the police are to be made more professional, they should be made transparent and evaluation-based in their work and should work independently.’

In the past, it was necessary to take the reins of political parties even to get postings in attractive places. Now, the new Home Minister Sudhan Gurung has issued an order not to come to the Police Headquarters, Naxal, to meet him for transfers and promotions.

The need now: Technology-friendly and professional police

Recently, cybercrime incidents have increased, and preparations for the 23 Bhadra movement were also made through ‘Discord’ and ‘Reddit’. However, the police have completely failed to get information about the preparations from the digital space.

‘In this situation, in the new year 2083, we should invest in making the police more technology-friendly and professional,’ says former AIG Dhakal, ‘We should create an environment where the police can work independently and impartially, from giving incentives to those who are deployed the most.’

The Gen-G movement has also pointed out that the style adopted by the police in crowd control should be reviewed. There is a need to equip the police with non-lethal weapons.

In addition, the police also need training. ‘The fact that most of the bullets fired by the police hit the waist also means that they lack training,’ says former DIG Madhav Thapa, a crowd control expert. ‘More importantly, the police should be given non-lethal weapons like rubber bullets and modern equipment.’

The Nepal Police is still operating on the basis of the 2012 Act. There have been repeated discussions and attempts to replace it with a new act, but it has always been stalled. ‘The new government’s priority next year should be to give the police a new law,’ says former AIG Dhakal, ‘through that, some of the police’s concerns should be addressed.’