KATHMANDU: Two people, including a journalist, were killed during a royalist protest in Tinkune, Kathmandu, on Friday. As the demonstration turned violent, incidents of arson, vandalism, and looting erupted across both public and private properties.
The chaos began around 3:30 PM, when protesters were dispersed by police. A faction of the pro-monarchy crowd fled from Tinkune towards Koteshwor, growing more aggressive along the way.
Upon reaching the Bhatbhateni Superstore, approximately 300 meters south of Koteshwor Chowk, the group launched an attack.
Videos and images quickly surfaced on social media, capturing protesters looting fruits, liquor, and expensive goods from the store.
The looting resembled similar incidents in Bangladesh last August. Besides stealing goods, the rioters pelted stones at the store, breaking glass panels.
Some protesters were seen hurling apples, oranges, and other items from a nearby stall. Bhatbhateni Superstore owner Min Bahadur Gurung described the attack as premeditated.
The violent protests and delayed police response have raised concerns over security measures in Kathmandu, leaving many questioning the preparedness of authorities in handling such crises.
“The glass is completely shattered, and engineers are assessing the damage,” he said. “They looted a significant amount—mobile phones, watches, liquor. This should never have happened.”
By Sunday, the store had been restored to its pre-looting state. Engineers replaced broken glass, and new inventory was stocked. Gurung estimated total losses between NPR 70-80 million.
Security guard Krishna Prasad Parajuli’s account
According to security guard Dipesh Khadka, the attackers targeted Bhatbhateni, believing it belonged to Prime Minister KP Oli and Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
“One man, dressed as a sadhu, stopped all the bikes and declared, ‘This building belongs to Prachanda and KP Oli—we must attack it!’” Khadka recounted in an interview with Khabarhub. “As soon as he said that, the crowd began vandalizing and looting.”
When the violence began, security guards attempted to lower the store’s electric shutters, but the protesters forced them open.
“As people rushed in, we secured the main gate,” Khadka explained. “I was on the upper floor when they called for backup. We were all told to be ready.”
For their safety, store employees and security personnel sought refuge in the grocery storage room. However, as the attack escalated, some guards decided to fight back.
“Surya Bahadur and Adhikari sir took the lead,” Khadka said. “Surya sir was struck in the nose with an iron rod. We retreated and hid in the toilet.”
Later, security personnel managed to drive out the looters. “At first, security guard Krishna Prasad Parajuli started beating back the attackers,” Khadka added.
“Seeing him fight back gave us the courage to resist. We all joined in, and the looters eventually fled.”
Khadka estimated that 20-25 attackers entered the store. While few customers were present at the time, female employees had to be hidden for safety. “They ran away in fear when we retaliated after Jan Maya was attacked,” he said.
Despite repeated calls for help, Khadka claimed police arrived nearly two hours late.
“We informed them several times, but they said they lacked manpower, and many officers were hospitalized due to injuries,” he recounted.
“When I called again, they just confirmed that this was the Koteshwor Bhatbhateni.”
Security guard Krishna Prasad Parajuli, who first resisted the looters, recalled his experience: “At first, we took cover inside. But then we went out and fought back, targeting those entering from the back.”
Despite the destruction, the store quickly recovered. “We’ve restocked the looted sections and reorganized the store ourselves. Our in-house team of engineers ensured a fast and efficient recovery,” Rai said.
The violent protests and delayed police response have raised concerns over security measures in Kathmandu, leaving many questioning the preparedness of authorities in handling such crises.
Big Challenge for us: Store Manager Rai
Muna Rai, the store manager of Bhatbhateni Koteshwor, describes the looting incident as one of the biggest challenges she has faced.
At the time of the attack, more than 300 employees were working at the Koteshwor store, over 90% of whom were women.
“When I think back to that day, I see it as a major challenge,” Rai told Khabarhub. “I wasn’t just responsible for myself—I had to protect my staff, the store I managed, and all the customers who were there to shop. My only focus was on keeping everyone safe.”
She recalled encouraging employees and customers to stay calm, which helped manage the crisis. However, the extent of the damage remains uncertain.
“They looted liquor, beer, whiskey, watches, mobile phones, cosmetics, bakery items, ice cream, cash, computer parts, cash lockers, and even security cameras,” Rai said.
The vandals also destroyed customer vehicles, storage boxes, and counter racks. “They didn’t stop at looting—they smashed everything in sight,” she added. “Even ice cream and bakery refrigerators were dragged outside and vandalized.”
Despite the destruction, the store quickly recovered. “We’ve restocked the looted sections and reorganized the store ourselves. Our in-house team of engineers ensured a fast and efficient recovery,” Rai said.
She strongly believes the attack was premeditated and demands a thorough investigation.
“This needs to be properly investigated,” Rai stated. “I witnessed a violent mob storm in, loot, and destroy everything. It was completely wrong, and those responsible must face legal action.”
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