Ministry recalls Sunsari CDO, district security bodies' heads

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, July 28: The Ministry of Home Affairs has recalled the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Sunsari, Basudev Ghimire, along with the heads of the district's security agencies, following the clash that occurred in Sunsari on Sunday night.

Ghimire has been recalled to the Ministry of Home Affairs and replaced by Ishwari Prasad Aryal, the Chief District Officer of Sankhuwasabha.

Similarly, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Binod Ghimire, Chief of the Koshi Province Police Office, has been transferred to Nepal Police Headquarters in Kathmandu. DIG Shekhar Khanal, who was serving at the Police Headquarters, has been appointed to lead the Koshi Province Police Office, according to Home Ministry’s Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Ananda Kafle. 

Superintendent of Police (SP) Keshav Thebe, Chief of the Sunsari District Police Office, has been transferred to Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. He will be succeeded by SP Pushpa Raj Malla, who had been serving at the airport.

The Ministry has also recalled Armed Police Force (APF) SP Shyam Kumar Karki to the APF Headquarters and appointed SP Labh Kumar Sapkota in his place. Likewise, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nanda Kishore Mahato, stationed at the APF unit in Kaptangunj, has also been recalled, said Joint Secretary Kafle. 

DSP Madan Nath, who was serving at the APF Headquarters in Kathmandu, has been assigned to replace him.

One person was killed in the clash between two groups at Kaptangunj in Dewangunj Rural Municipality-3, Sunsari, on Sunday night. The incident also left 24 people injured, including nine civilians, 10 Nepal Police personnel and five members of the Armed Police Force.

Meanwhile, to prevent any further deterioration in the security situation, the Sunsari District Administration Office has imposed an indefinite curfew from 7:00 am on Monday in selected areas of Dewangunj and Harinagar Rural Municipalities.

Govt forms 5-member probe committee 

Meanwhile, earlier the Ministry formed a five-member investigation committee led by Joint Secretary Bhupendra Thapa to investigate the incident. 

The committee has been given one week to submit its report.

The Assistant Chief District Officer of Sunsari will serve as the member secretary of the committee. In addition to investigating the incident, the panel has been tasked with recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Over the issue, the local administration imposed a curfew in  Kaptangunj of Dewangunj Rural Municipality-3, Sunsari, after one person was killed when police opened fire while attempting to bring a clash between two groups under control.

Following the incident, Minister for Home Affairs Sudan Gurung held a meeting with the country's top security officials at the ministry. The decision to form the five-member investigation committee was taken after the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Home Minister Gurung, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Bahadur Karki, Armed Police Force Inspector General Narayan Dutta Poudyal, and other senior security officials.