Police have arrested 40 people involved in vandalizing and looting Lotse Mall located at New Bus Park as well as torching police vehicles on February 13. They were arrested on Friday evening on the charge of torching two police vans, vandalizing Lotse Mall and looting mobile sets during protest launched by transport workers. Agitators had vandalized ACDC Mobile Pvt Ltd, Diamond Mobile Pvt Ltd, Kathmandu Supermarket Pvt Ltd and looted mobile sets, chargers, earphone as well as other things.
They also set on fire the vehicles (Ba 2 Jha 144) and (Ba 1 Jha 7224) of Police Circle, Balaju. Similarly, a temporary police post of Balaju Chowk was also torched by the protestestors. Spokesperson at the District Police Office, Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal said 29 people were arrested on the charge of their involvement in arson and vandalism and 11 for their involvement in looting mobile sets. Investigation into the case was underway. Other people involved in arson and vandalism have already been identified and they would be arrested soon, he added.
A protest launched by the Nepal Transport Workers’ Association, All Nepal Transport Workers’ Association, and Nepal Transport Independent Workers’ Organisation had vandalized Lotse Mall, looted mobile sets and set the police vehicles on fire.
