Tinkune incident under investigation: Home Minister Lekhak

KATHMANDU: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has stated that arrests are ongoing in connection to the recent violent protests organized by royalist groups, which involved vandalism and arson.

He informed that the main accused, Durga Prasai, has already been taken into custody, and efforts are underway to apprehend other individuals involved in the incidents.

Speaking at a meeting of the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee under the House of Representatives today, Minister Lekhak emphasized the government’s firm stance on addressing such violence.

He also announced that the government has decided to bear all treatment costs for those injured during the protests. “If any medicines or treatment are required outside the hospital where they are being treated, the government will cover those expenses as well,” he said.

“I personally visited the injured at the hospital,” he added. “The government has also decided to provide Rs. 1 million each as relief to the families of the two people who lost their lives in the incident. The process has already begun.”

Minister Lekhak described the violent protest in Tinkune as an attempt to undermine the constitution and dismantle the democratic system. “In a democracy, setting fires and seeking authoritarianism is not justifiable,” he said. “An esteemed religion like Hinduism should not be misused for regressive politics.”

He further emphasized that while the current constitution and democratic system allow space for expressing dissatisfaction, there is no room for seeking alternatives to democracy or regressing to the past.

“The government is taking the Tinkune incident very seriously,” he stated. “Analyzing the events, it is clear that the act was a premeditated effort to incite terror and lawlessness. The government is committed to preventing such incidents in the future.”