KANCHANPUR: The recent youth-led protests in far-western Nepal escalated into widespread destruction, with dozens of government offices, political party branches, private residences, and businesses targeted by arson and vandalism. Authorities say the scale of property damage runs into millions of rupees.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sagar Bohara of the Kanchanpur District Police Office, at least 27 government offices were attacked, including the District Administration Office, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) gate, the Kanchanpur District Prison, and the area police offices at Tribhuvanbasti and Gulariya.
Municipal buildings in Shuklaphanta, Bhimdutta, Punarbash, Krishnapur, and Beldandi were also set ablaze or vandalized, resulting in the destruction of documents, furniture, and physical infrastructure.
The violence extended to politics. Offices of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN-Maoist Centre in Bhimdutta and Dodhara Chandani municipalities, five in total, were torched.
Private homes of prominent leaders were also attacked. Victims included former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, former Chief Minister Rajendra Rawal, ex-minister Prakash Rawal, Bhimdutta Mayor Padam Bogati and Deputy Mayor Nilam Lekhak, former MP Nirudevi Pal, provincial lawmaker Madhu Bharti, Vedkot Mayor Bhojraj Bohara, former Bhimdutta Mayor Surendra Bista, District Coordination Committee chief Durgadatta Bohara, Karnali Province Chief Yagyaraj Joshi, and Krishnapur Mayor Hemraj Ojha.
Commercial centers were not spared. Protesters vandalized or looted the Hotel Opera, CMG Casino, Bipin Bookstore, Royal Tailoring Center, and Diamond Casino, Bohara confirmed.
In addition, at least 16 vehicles, including a hearse, fire engine, motorcycles, scooters, tractors, and a road roller, were torched. A vehicle belonging to the Punarbash Municipality’s mayor was among those destroyed.
The unrest also triggered a mass escape at the Kanchanpur District Prison, where 479 inmates had been held. Police said 124 escapees have so far been recaptured, including 103 who were returned just today. The prison population before the jailbreak included 453 men and 26 women, with 169 serving time on drug-related offenses.
Authorities are still assessing the full scale of losses, but officials say both state and private property have suffered enormous damage.
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