Kathmandu. At a time when dozens of police circles and beats in the valley have been the target of vandalism and arson during the Gen-G movement, the residents of Thapathali slum have set an exemplary example.

Locals had kept the police belongings, utensils and clothes safe to protect the Thapathali police beat under Singha Durbar Police Circle from the onslaught of the miscreants. Residents who took special efforts to save the structure in the midst of the agitation today formally returned the keys of the beat along with the belongings of the beat to the police chief.

Thapathali squatters’ settlement leaders Min Kumar Magar, secretary Gopal Poudel, advisor Dal Mardan Kami, Suman Chaudhary, Ganesh Raigai, Benjamun Subba, Akash Budhathoki, Gopal Majhi and Padam Lama among others welcomed the police personnel and offered them shawls.

On the occasion, police beat Thapathali chief head constable Bal Bahadur Sunar and five other police personnel were welcomed and honoured by the locals in coordination with DSP Janardan Ghimire, chief of Singha Durbar Police Circle.

Speaking at the program, Dal Mardan Kami said, “At a time when about 50 percent of the police circles in the country have been damaged in the BIT movement, the example shown by the Thapathali squatters has given a message to the entire country to destroy the property of the state or community due to the mistake of an individual. ’

Likewise, head constable Bal Bahadur Sunar expressed gratitude to all the residents and leaders of the settlement and said, “Your support has strengthened not only the police but the entire structure of the state.” ’

This incident has set an example that national property and security structures can be protected through people’s conscious participation and responsible conduct even in difficult situations of agitation.

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