A young man attempted self-immolation in front of the Passport Department in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, following a dispute after city police placed a wheel lock on his parked motorcycle. The individual, identified as 25-year-old Ganesh Nepali, was operating a ride-sharing service when he set himself on fire on Thursday afternoon.
According to the Information Officer and Superintendent of Police (SP) for the District Police Range Kathmandu, Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, Nepali is a permanent resident of Soru Rural Municipality Ward No. 1 in Mugu district and has been residing in Bhaktapur. He had stopped his motorcycle near Gate Number 3 of the Passport Department to conduct a ride-sharing service.
SP Bhattarai, citing eyewitnesses, stated that a dispute erupted between Nepali and the city police after the municipal authorities placed a wheel lock on the vehicle, citing that it was parked in a prohibited zone. Infuriated by the altercation with the city police, Nepali extracted petrol from his motorcycle, poured it over his body, and set himself on fire at approximately 1:45 PM.
A police team deployed at the scene immediately extinguished the flames, rescued him, and rushed him to Bir Hospital for medical treatment. According to the police report, Nepali sustained severe burn injuries and remains in critical condition while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The incident highlights growing tensions regarding municipal parking enforcement, and further updates are expected as authorities monitor the rider's medical condition and review the circumstances of the confrontation.
