Kathmandu, Dec 31: The incident wherein two people were killed and over a dozen others injured when the police used force against the protesting youths over the EPS language test in Balkumari, Lalitpur has drawn a widespread criticism. Experts have criticised the police for using force.
However, the police have defended saying they opened fire only to take the tense situation under control after the protest turned violent wherein the agitators torched a vehicle used by Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala.
In the shooting, 23-year-old Sujan Rawat of Dailekh and 23-year-old Birender Shah of Achham were killed.
In the name of taking the situation under control, it was not appropriate for the police to resort to opening fire instead of taking up other alternative measures, argued former Deputy Inspector General of Police Keshab Adhikari.
In the incident, police baton-charged and opened tear gas and bullets at the protestors in Gwarko area.
The youths took to the streets after the court earlier ruled allowing only 18 of those who took the shipbuilding examination to apply for the manufacturing sector test. Over 32,000 people took the shipbuilding test.
However, following the protest, the High Court Patan corrected its earlier verdict and allowed the participation of all those who took the shipbuilding examination to apply for the manufacturing sector test.
Sensing a protest, a large number of security personnel were mobilised in the area. The situation remained tense after the police mobilised in the area started charging at the protestors, said the agitators.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a three-member investigation committee under the coordination of DIG Lalamani Acharya to investigate incident.
Other members of the probe committee are Assistant Chief District Officer, Lalitpur Amardip Sunuwar and Deputy Director of the National Investigation Department Basu Sigdel.
