Mayor assaults officer: Staff protest, services halted

KATHMANDU: A disturbing incident in Simraungadh Municipality of Bara district has spotlighted the growing impunity and disorder at the local level.

Mayor Kishori Prasad Kalwar has been accused of physically assaulting the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Hari Om Prasad Jaiswal, after he refused to approve an illegal payment of millions of rupees.

According to Jaiswal, on Baisakh 16, Mayor Kalwar summoned him to his private residence near Janaki Oil in Kotwali Chowk, where he allegedly subjected him to verbal abuse followed by a violent assault.

The altercation reportedly stemmed from the CAO’s refusal to release Rs 2.7 million for the Gadhimai fair — a figure far exceeding the Rs 1 million approved by the municipal executive board. Jaiswal insisted that any payment beyond the sanctioned amount would be unlawful.

The CAO has filed official complaints with both the District Administration Office and the District Police Office in Bara.

In the wake of the assault, municipal employees have launched a protest, demanding strict action against the mayor.

All services at the Simraungadh Municipality office have come to a halt, leaving residents without access to essential public services.

Deputy Mayor Najmu Seher strongly condemned the mayor’s actions, stating that Kalwar frequently treats municipal staff like personal servants and enforces arbitrary decisions without board approval. “He pressures employees to make large payments without legal documentation and resorts to violence when they adhere to proper procedures,” she said.

This is not the first instance of misconduct. According to Seher, the mayor’s son and his supporters previously assaulted Planning Officer Nandkishor Sah and vandalized office equipment after a work order was not issued to their liking.

Following the recent assault, CAO Jaiswal is reportedly considering resignation, while Mayor Kalwar is allegedly attempting to replace him with someone more compliant in order to facilitate the misappropriation of municipal funds.

Deputy Mayor Seher claims that 20 out of 21 executive board members are opposed to the mayor’s leadership and had agreed to retain Jaiswal until the end of the fiscal year, despite mounting pressure for his removal.

Efforts to contact Mayor Kalwar for his response were unsuccessful.

Municipal employees have vowed to continue their protest until decisive action is taken.

Meanwhile, local residents are calling for a thorough investigation and the establishment of lawful governance in Simraungadh Municipality.