Gatthaghar accident: Steps to be taken against perpetrators of traffic police assault

KATHMANDU: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has instructed Inspector General of Police Basanta Kunwar to conduct a serious investigation into the vehicular accident that occurred at Ghatthaghar in Bhaktapur on Thursday afternoon.

Following the Home Minister’s directive, CCTV footage from the scene has been released by the police.

The footage reveals that a truck with the registration number NA 6 Kha 2173 collided with a scooter bearing the number BA 39 PA 8944.

The scooter was being ridden by 65-year-old Uttam Koirala, a resident of Chishankhugadhi-4 in Okhaldhunga, who was currently residing in Kathmandu’s Kapan. The collision resulted in Koirala’s death. The footage shows that the truck driver is primarily at fault.

The driver of the truck, 32-year-old Satyendra Shrestha from Malangwa Municipality-2 in Sarlahi, fled the scene but was apprehended by the Kathmandu police in New Baneshwor on Thursday evening.

The case has been handed over to the Thimi police station.

Details from the CCTV Footage

The released CCTV footage shows traffic police stationed for vehicle checks on the road leading from Kaushaltar to Gatthaghar. Several vehicles, including the scooter involved in the accident, are seen approaching. As the scooter slows down, a speeding truck overtakes from the right and hits the scooter, dragging it along and eventually running it over with the truck’s wheels.

Traffic police arrive at the scene to assist. The footage indicates significant negligence on the part of the truck driver. According to DSP Rajan Karki from the District Police Office Bhaktapur, regular traffic checks were in place at the time of the accident, but neither the scooter nor the truck was stopped, and thus there was no fault on the part of the traffic police.

Issues with Media Communication

Following the accident, an enraged crowd attacked traffic police, accusing them of causing the incident due to their checks. The crowd beat up the officers, tore their uniforms, and even attacked those who had taken shelter in homes and hotels. There were also attempts to vandalize the truck and set it on fire. Despite these developments, the Bhaktapur police did not communicate with the media, leading to the spread of incorrect information.

Various media outlets attempted to contact District Police Chief Bed Bista for information, but he did not answer. Efforts to reach DSP Karki and Thimi’s DSP also proved unsuccessful, leading some media to report based on local accounts, resulting in misinformation.

Errors in Identification

Initially, the police incorrectly identified the victim as a young woman, based on the mistaken identification of the deceased by Shambhu Nepali from Dolakha, who claimed the victim was his sister. However, after media reports misidentified the victim, the actual deceased person, Uttam Koirala, was confirmed through documents found on the scooter.

DSP Karki explained that the body was so badly mutilated that it was difficult to identify the gender immediately. The delay in retrieving the body from under the truck and the inability to use a crane due to the crowd’s interference also contributed to the identification delay.

Action Against Attacks on Traffic Police

Roshni Kumari Shrestha, the Chief District Officer of Bhaktapur, expressed sorrow over the incident and announced the formation of an investigation committee to ascertain the facts. She mentioned that the truck owner has been summoned to Kathmandu, and discussions with the victim’s family are underway. Measures for the post-mortem of the deceased are also being arranged.

Shrestha emphasized that there was no fault on the part of the traffic police and assured that action would be taken against those who attacked the traffic police and vandalized property. She stated that the violence against the traffic police was unjustified and emphasized the need for accurate information.