Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who assumed office through the Gen-Z movement, has made accountability her first priority. On Sunday, she declared the 72 people killed during the September 8–9 protests as martyrs and announced relief of Rs 1 million for each bereaved family and an additional Rs 500,000 to cover other expenses. At the same time, she pledged stern action against those responsible for vandalism, arson, and targeted destruction of government property—a commitment that has offered some solace to a wounded nation. The resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was followed by coordinated attacks on Singha Durbar, Baluwatar, courts, ward offices and other government institutions. While physical structures can be rebuilt, the burning of archives and records has caused irreparable loss, erasing historical documents and vital data needed by ordinary citizens. These were not spontaneous acts of anger but part of a deliberate attempt to conceal corruption.
Reviving trust in judiciary
Disturbingly, recent movements have seen a growing trend of inciting violence against public and private property through social media. Political leaders, cadres and even influential figures openly issued threats to burn government buildings and courts. Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah’s threat to torch Singha Durbar and earlier warnings from party leaders to attack courts underline the gravity of this culture of provocation. Such incitement is no less criminal than the acts themselves and those who encouraged violence must be investigated and prosecuted. In fact, Nepal has a painful history of attacks on public offices—from the democracy movements of 1990 and 2006 to the decade-long Maoist insurgency that destroyed police posts, VDC offices and vital government records. The recent targeting of business establishments and media houses has added a new layer of suffering. Ordinary citizens continue to pay the price for these calculated acts of destruction.
It is now evident that the latest violence was part of a planned conspiracy. Prime Minister Karki herself has acknowledged this and stressed the need for accountability. If the criminal elements behind the destruction are not identified and punished, such tendencies will only resurface in the future. Nepalis had earlier fought for political change without looting businesses or torching institutions. The deviation from this norm has alarmed society. The government and security agencies must therefore move beyond general assurances and take decisive action. Protecting vital state institutions—the government headquarters, judiciary and parliament—is not optional; it is the state’s core duty. Justice for the victims of violence will only be achieved if those responsible—both the perpetrators and the instigators—are brought within the ambit of law. The newly-appointed Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal must work to this end. Anything less will embolden criminal elements and deepen public distrust. The time has come to identify the culprits and take stern, exemplary action to ensure that such crimes are never repeated.
