Kathmandu – Mayor Balendra Shah of Kathmandu Metropolitan City has issued a shocking threat to set fire to Singha Durbar after traffic police stopped his wife’s vehicle, leading to a heated confrontation on the evening of Saturday.
The incident unfolded around 9 o’clock when a team of Koteshwar traffic police halted a government vehicle bearing white number plates, traveling at high speed on a holiday. Mayor Shah vented his anger on social media, posting on Facebook, “Nothing happened today, if any vehicle of our metropolitan city is stopped by the government from tomorrow, I will set fire to Singha Darbar. Remember thief government.”
Police Deputy Inspector Sushil Neupane, part of the Koteshwar Traffic Police, stopped the red car with white number plates as it was headed from Balkumari towards Tinkune, requesting a permit for holiday travel. “Senior police have requested permission to drive on holidays. There was no permission,” stated DIG of the valley traffic police office, Poshraj Pokharel. He added that the stoppage lasted for only 2 to 3 minutes and that no further incidents occurred.
According to the traffic police officer who conducted the inspection, the government vehicle was also traveling at a high speed. When questioned, the driver inquired why the Kathmandu Metropolitan vehicle had been stopped. “There was a woman in the vehicle, and when asked, the driver confirmed her presence. We then allowed them to proceed,” explained the traffic police officer.
Subsequently, Mayor Shah contacted the Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Jitendra Basnet, to inform him of the traffic stop. Basnet, in turn, instructed the Kathmandu police chief to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stoppage.
This incident has raised questions and concerns about the appropriate behavior of public officials and the use of their privileges. The government and security agencies are expected to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter to ensure transparency and accountability.
The situation remains tense as both Mayor Balendra Shah and the traffic police involved in the incident await further developments and investigation.
