Governance Rift Exposed: Nepal Police and City Police Clash Over Demolition Drive in Thapathali

KATHMANDU, Nov 2

The Thapathali area witnessed hours of tension on Sunday after a confrontation erupted between the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) City Police and the Nepal Police during a demolition drive targeting structures deemed illegal.

The standoff began when a KMC team, accompanied by a bulldozer and a large number of City Police personnel, arrived at the Ram Mandir premises to demolish a police outpost allegedly built on encroached heritage land. In response, Nepal Police and Traffic Police personnel were deployed in significant numbers, resulting in a heated face-off between the two enforcement bodies.

SP Pawan Bhattarai of the Kathmandu District Police Range criticized the move, stating that the metropolis had proceeded without proper coordination.

“A metropolis must act according to the law. They should have coordinated with us. No official letter has been received,” Bhattarai said.

The KMC team has been conducting a demolition campaign in the area for the past few days, targeting structures said to have encroached on heritage property.

However, Metropolitan City Police defended their actions, asserting that due process was followed.

“The demolition is part of our ongoing campaign to clear encroachments. A public notice was issued a month ago, and announcements were made through street miking yesterday,” said DSP Purna Chandra Bhatta of the City Police.

Nepal Police, on the other hand, claim that the land in question was donated by Guthi Sansthan to the police long ago—a claim KMC officials firmly deny.

The incident has once again highlighted a governance gap and lack of coordination between local authorities and national law enforcement agencies, raising concerns over jurisdictional clarity and the execution of urban management policies in Kathmandu.