Lawmakers condemn police crackdown on peaceful protest by scrap dealers
KATHMANDU: Lawmakers strongly condemned the police crackdown on scrap dealers peacefully protesting on Tuesday, demanding proper medical care for the injured individuals. During a special session of the House of Representatives, Prabhu Sah, Chairperson of the Aam Janata Party, reported that over 50 scrap dealers were injured in the police action and called for accountability from Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane regarding the incident. Sah asserted that the police intervention violated the constitutional rights of Nepali citizens to peaceful protest and emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and livelihoods of the people.
Similarly, independent lawmaker Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh expressed outrage over the use of force against the protesters, who were demonstrating against the removal of their businesses despite a court order permitting their operation. Singh criticized the administration's policy of employing force against individuals from the Madhes region and urged for free medical treatment for the injured individuals. The incident occurred when the police intervened as scrap dealers attempted to encircle the Kathmandu Metropolitan City office in protest against the decision to remove their businesses from the metropolis.