Officials of the inquiry commission formed to look into the loss of lives and property in the Gen Z-led protests on September 8 and 9 have travelled to various parts of the country to collect details of incidents.

The teams led by the commission’s chairperson and members left Kathmandu Valley this week to gather information nationwide. After completing the collection, the commission will begin taking statements from those involved in the state’s use of force on September 8.

Gauri Bahadur Karki, chairperson, has reached Makwanpur in Bagmati Province and Parsa in Madhesh Province to assess damages. Member and spokesperson Bijyan Raj Sharma will collect details from Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces, visiting Kaski, Chitwan, Rupandehi and Banke districts.

Another member, Bisheshwar Prasad Bhandari, is leading a team to collect data from Surkhet in Karnali Province and Kailali and Kanchanpur in Sudurpaschim Province. Each team includes commission staff and will coordinate with district, provincial and local authorities to record losses and hold discussions with officials.

Chairperson Karki said the field visits were part of the commission’s mandate to assess damages across the country. “We are responsible for reviewing nationwide losses. Staying in Kathmandu alone would not reveal the real situation, so we formed three teams to cover all provinces,” he said.

According to Karki, the commission has also requested data from government institutions. “The Supreme Court is sending its damage report, while we’ve sought details from the Home Ministry, police, provincial structures and local bodies. Some records are still being verified, but we’ll compile reports from all levels,” he said.

The commission plans to start taking statements from next week, beginning with police commanders deployed in New Baneshwar and Maitighar during the protests. Statements will then be taken from the then chief district officer, police officials, home secretary, then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

However, the commission has yet to finalise procedures for investigating the arson, vandalism and looting that occurred on September 9 at the Parliament building, Singha Durbar, Supreme Court, residences of top officials, hotels, media houses and Bhattabhatteni stores.

Meanwhile, there has been a change in the commission’s administrative leadership. Joint Secretary Gogan Bahadur Hamal, who led the administrative section, has been transferred as Chief District Officer of Bardiya. In his place, the government has appointed Prakash Paudel, previously CDO of Bara, as the new administrative head of the commission.

The Cabinet, on September 21 formed the three-member commission under the leadership of former Special Court chair and ex-judge Karki. The panel has been given three months to submit its report.

During the Gen Z movement, 76 people, including protesters and police, were killed in shootings, prison escapes, fires and clashes. Large-scale arson, looting, and vandalism occurred at several government, private and commercial properties.