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Kathmandu, October 14 — Although there was significant damage and signs of deliberate fire-setting during the Gen Z protests on September 9, the Nepal Police’s Forensic Science Laboratory has not yet analyzed any of the affected areas or evidence, prompting doubts about the efficiency of the police investigation and responsibility.

On September 8 and 9, during the anti-corruption demonstrations led by Generation Z, there were major human losses alongside extensive damage to physical structures.

On September 9, demonstrators ignited and demolished multiple significant government structures, such as Singha Durbar, the primary administrative center of Nepal’s government, the Supreme Court, and the Parliament building.

In the same way, the ministerial homes in Bhaisepati and the Hilton Hotel in Naxal were attacked by protesters. Numerous private buildings, including media companies and supermarkets, were also on fire during the demonstration.

The incidents extended beyond the Kathmandu Valley. Comparable attacks occurred in various towns outside the capital city. Considering that key government buildings and other sites were set on fire within a short period, numerous analysts believe these attacks were not spontaneous. Even interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, following her appointment on September 12, openly mentioned that the assaults on infrastructure were premeditated.

Even though it is recognized that the fire attacks were planned, no inquiry has taken place to identify the substances involved.

Police Superintendent and media representative of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Pushkar Raj Bhatta, mentioned that no items or samples from the affected locations were sent to his department for analysis. Bhatta, however, noted that the forensic laboratory is equipped and has the necessary resources to examine substances involved in such incidents.

Laboratory officials propose that materials like sodium, magnesium, or other chemical substances could have been involved in the incidents. Nevertheless, they have not received any formal directive to inspect the affected structures.

Crime scene investigators gather information from the location, while the police’s forensic science laboratory examines this data to identify the substances or materials involved in the crime.

In the meantime, Binod Ghimire, a representative from the Central Police Office, stated that it is not required to reveal all details regarding the police’s operations. Ghimire further mentioned that following the incidents, the police have created official reports and will assist the judicial investigation commission established by the government.

All information about the incidents will be incorporated into the report compiled by the committee, he mentioned.

The administration has established a three-person judicial panel to examine the incidents of suppression and damage associated with the Gen Z movement, headed by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki.

The top-level judicial committee has Bigyan Raj Sharma, a former deputy inspector general of the Nepal Police, and legal specialist Bishweshwar Prasad Bhandari among its members.

A police representative named Ghimire mentioned that the committee also has input from the police department and that a thorough description of the events will be included in the committee’s findings.

“The police follow their own protocols for conducting investigations, and it’s not possible to reveal all the specifics at this time,” said spokesperson Ghimire to the Post.

However, a high-ranking official from the Police Headquarters raised doubts about why the forensic laboratory did not conduct its own inquiry if it believed that highly flammable materials were involved in the arson incidents.

The official stated, ‘Since the laboratory functions as a department within the police force, there was no need for it to await guidance from others to perform its responsibilities.’

DSP Pawan Dhungana from the lab mentioned that no tests have been carried out yet. He noted that approval from the Police Headquarters is needed to discuss the issue and refused to provide any additional comments.

However, Hemanta Malla, the former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal Police, stated that the police were unable to perform their duties effectively due to their own confusion. Malla also highlighted that the police have not yet conducted a comprehensive investigation into the types of substances used to ignite the buildings.

“On September 9, incidents of arson were not exclusively caused by petroleum-based materials. An inquiry into this issue should have been conducted, but the police have neglected to do so,” Malla stated.

He stated that the laboratory was unable to perform these examinations on its own. In his view, visiting the scene of the incident and producing official reports is a technical duty, but not something within the laboratory’s authority.

He further elaborated that the internal hierarchy within the police system also hinders the laboratory from operating autonomously in these issues.

A Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) at the laboratory mentioned that if evidence is properly preserved, it can be analyzed at a later date. However, he added that, to date, they have not received any samples for testing.