A high-level inquiry commission led by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki has recommended departmental action against senior officials of the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force (APF) and the National Investigation Department (NID), along with action against four high-ranking Nepali Army officers.

The commission’s report, obtained by the Post, also recommends criminal proceedings against political and top security leadership, while proposing departmental action against several senior police officials. Those named include Additional Inspector General of Nepal Police Siddhi Bikram Shah, Deputy Inspector General of Nepal Police Om Bahadur Rana, then chief of the Kathmandu District Police Range Bishwa Adhikari (currently DIG), then Senior Superintendent of Police at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office Dip Shumsher Rana, and Superintendent of Police Rishiram Kandel.

From the Armed Police Force, the commission has recommended action against Additional Inspector General Narayan Datta Paudel, who served as the then operations commander; Deputy Inspector General Suresh Kumar Shrestha, then Kathmandu Brigade chief; and Superintendent of Police Jiban KC, who was stationed at the Disaster Rescue Unit in Sinamangal.

The report takes a sterner position against the heads of the security agencies at the time, recommending separate criminal proceedings against then Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung, APF Inspector General Raju Aryal, and then chief of the National Investigation Department Hut Raj Thapa.

From the NID, those recommended for action include Joint Director of the Valley Operations Division Krishna Prasad Khanal and Joint Research Director and Kathmandu District Chief Riben Kumar Gachhadar.

Army commanders also under scrutiny

The commission has also recommended action against four Nepali Army officers responsible for security at key state installations.

They include Brigadier General Manoj Kumar Baidawar, who headed security at the President’s residence, Shital Niwas; Lieutenant Colonel Diwakar Khadka, in charge of security at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar; and Lieutenant Colonel Ganesh Khadka, who led security at the Singha Durbar Secretariat and also served as a member of the District Security Committee.

Lieutenant Colonel Santosh Dhungel, who headed the security team deployed at the Parliament building premises, has also been recommended for action.

The commission has advised that action be taken against them in accordance with the Nepali Army Act, Nepal Police Act, Armed Police Force Act and Special Service Act.