Government to form high-level commission over Balkumari incident

KATHMANDU: The government has proceeded ahead with forming a high-level commission to probe an incident occurred in Balkumari of Lalitpur on Friday, resulting in two fatalities.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today directed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, towards that end. The Home Ministry will prepare a proposal to this regard and present to the Council of Ministers.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers scheduled to take place on Monday evening is expected to make a formal decision regarding the formation of the Commission, according to Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala.

The Commission will be formed in accordance with the Clause 3(2) of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 2026 BS (1969) and will start works from Monday itself.

Birendra Shah, 22, of Doti and Sujan Rawat, 23, of Dailekh who were injured in a police clash following a demonstration later died during the treatment. Youths demonstrated at Balkumari, citing they were barred from appearing in the EPS examination. The vehicle of Minister Jwala was torched in the incident.

A committee was formed by the Home Ministry same day to inquire about the incident. On Saturday, Lalitpur’s Police Chief, Lalitpur’s Chief District Officer and EPS Korea Branch Chief were suspended until the investigations into the matter conclude.