- Ride-sharing driver Ganesh Nepali died after self-immolating during a parking dispute with Kathmandu municipal police outside the Department of Passports.
- Mass protests and candlelight vigils erupted across Kathmandu, as demonstrators condemned aggressive municipal enforcement and demanded justice for the victim.
- The federal government launched a high-level investigation and detained three municipal officers, while opposition lawmakers criticized the state's harsh traffic policies.
- Nepali’s family is refusing to claim his body until the government provides financial compensation and secures his daughter’s educational future.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Mass protests and a somber candlelight vigil gripped the capital on Friday following the death of 25-year-old ride-sharing driver Ganesh Nepali, who succumbed to severe burn injuries after setting himself on fire outside the Department of Passports in Tripureshwar.
The tragedy, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, has triggered widespread public anger, paralyzed central Kathmandu traffic, and sparked an intense political debate regarding municipal enforcement tactics and the economic pressures facing working-class citizens.
Clash Over Parking Ticket Escalates to Tragedy
According to police and eyewitness accounts, the incident began at approximately 1:45 PM on Thursday outside Gate 3 of the Department of Passports. Municipal police officers from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) deployed a wheel lock on Nepali’s motorcycle for an alleged parking violation.
A heated verbal altercation ensued when Nepali, a native of Mugu district who resided in Bhaktapur, reportedly pleaded with officers to release his vehicle. When city personnel refused and summoned a tow truck to impound the motorcycle, a distressed Nepali siphoned petrol from his fuel tank, doused himself, and ignited the fire.
Nearby security personnel and bystanders managed to extinguish the flames and rushed him to Bir Hospital.
Nepali sustained deep tissue burns covering 55% to 60% of his body, heavily damaging his respiratory tract. A 21-member medical team, led by Dr. Peeyush Dahal, placed him on a ventilator in the Burn Intensive Care Unit. Although the federal government had prepared an air ambulance to transfer Nepali to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, doctors declared him too unstable for transport. He was pronounced dead at 11:19 AM on Friday.
Protests Paralyze the Capital
As news of Nepali’s passing spread on Friday afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators—including fellow ride-sharing riders, youth groups, and representatives from Mugu district—converged on Maitighar Mandala.
Holding placards that read "Stop Traffic Terror" and "Justice for Ganesh Nepali," the crowd blamed state authorities for creating the economic despair that led to the driver's death. Riot police intercepted a march attempting to move toward Bir Hospital at Bhadrakali, resulting in brief standoffs before the crowd returned to Maitighar for an evening candlelight vigil.
The incident quickly escalated into federal politics on Friday morning. Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives fiercely criticized the government, pointing out the harsh reality of dual-agency enforcement in the capital, where municipal police charge double the traditional federal traffic fine.
Government Launches Probe as Family Demands Justice
In response to mounting public fury, the federal government announced Friday evening the formation of a high-level probe panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the self-immolation. Kathmandu District Police Range confirmed that three municipal officers involved in the initial confrontation have been detained for questioning.
"He just wanted to earn an honest living to support his wife and three-year-old daughter," his elder brother, Madan, told reporters outside the hospital. "The municipal authorities pushed him to the edge."
As of Friday night, Nepali's family has refused to claim his body from the Bir Hospital morgue. Relatives have stated they will not proceed with funeral arrangements until the state officially declares Nepali a martyr, provides financial compensation, secures a government job for his widow, and guarantees educational funding for his young daughter.
