Nagarikmara Rule

On Ashar 25, 2083, Ganesh Nepal, a 25-year-old resident of Muguk’s Soru Municipality-1, stopped his motorcycle in front of the passport office in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu. When the female metropolitan police officer asked him not to park there, a heated argument ensued between the two. The metropolitan police then put a ‘wheel lock’ on Ganesh’s motorcycle.

Ganesh, who was supporting his wife and daughter by working as a ride-sharing driver, asked to be let off, but the metropolitan police refused. As the dispute escalated, Ganesh poured petrol on himself and took his own life. Ganesh had participated in the Jan-ji movement last year and had hoped for change in the country and a better future for young people like him.

The incident sparked widespread outrage and criticism of the government’s handling of the situation. The government was accused of being insensitive and cruel towards citizens. Three police officers from the metropolitan police were arrested and charged with inhumane treatment of riders.

The incident also highlighted the lack of proper parking facilities in the city. The metropolitan police had been cracking down on unauthorized parking, but the lack of designated parking areas had led to chaos on the streets. The incident sparked a debate about the need for better traffic management and parking facilities in the city.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City had introduced a new rule allowing the metropolitan police to put a ‘wheel lock’ on vehicles parked in unauthorized areas. However, the rule was widely criticized as being too harsh and not addressing the root cause of the problem. The incident also raised questions about the role of the metropolitan police in enforcing traffic rules and the need for more effective and humane methods of traffic management.

The incident led to a wider debate about the need for better governance and more effective management of the city’s traffic and parking systems. The government was accused of not doing enough to address the issue and of being out of touch with the needs of citizens.