1,276 Rifles and Pistols Looted: Nearly 100,000 Bullets Missing During “Gen-Z” Protests

Kathmandu — The “Gen-Z” protests, marked by police crackdowns and subsequent violence, led to widespread arson and vandalism targeting police posts across the country. Over two days of unrest, 74 people, including three police personnel, lost their lives, while around 200 others remain hospitalized.

An internal report prepared by Nepal Police revealed that 1,276 rifles and pistols were looted during the protests. In addition, 98,491 rounds of ammunition are unaccounted for. The report notes that a high-level investigation is necessary to determine how many of the missing rounds were used by police and how many were stolen.

The report also shows a shortfall of 1,315 rubber bullets, though police have not clarified how many were actually used. Official figures confirm that within two days, security forces fired 2,220 rounds into the air and launched 3,223 tear gas shells.

Changes in Police Bill: Pension at 16 years, IGP’s age limit at 60

Kathmandu- The Ministry of Home Affairs has made extensive changes to the Police Bill registered in Parliament. The Police Bill, which includes a provision to provide pension to lower-level police officers at 16 years, removing the 30-year service requirement, has been registered in Parliament. Similarly, the bill has reduced the marks given by the promotion committee and increased the marks for performance evaluation and seniority.

As per the demand of lower-level police employees, it is mentioned that ASI, SI and senior SI will get monthly pension for life after completing 18 years of service and senior constables and police officers below that will get the pension after16 years of service. However, Section 57 of the bill states that pension will be provided only after completing 20 years of service from the date of appointment to the service.

Similarly, the bill proposes to increase the retirement age of Inspector General of Police to 60 years, Additional Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police to 59 years, Senior Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of Police to 58 years, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Police Inspector to 57 years, Senior Deputy Inspector of Police, Deputy Inspector of Police and Police Assistant Inspector to 54 years, Senior Constable of Police, Police Constable, Police Assistant Constable and Police Constable to 51 years and Police Attendant to 55 years.

Similarly, under the provision of tenure, IGP and AIG have been given three years, DIG has five years, SSP has eight years and SP has ten years, while the tenure limit has not been specified for other posts.

Similarly, the bill has increased the marks given by the promotion committee by reducing the marks for performance evaluation and seniority.

Earlier, there was a provision that the promotion committee could give a maximum of 7.5 marks out of a hundred whole marks in promotion. It has been reduced to 3 points. The police have proposed that the score be reduced on the grounds that there was manipulation in the promotion as the promotion committee has too much discretionary power. Similarly, the performance evaluation has been given 50 out of 100 marks. Earlier, it was mentioned that a maximum of 40 marks could be given for performance. While there were 22 marks for seniority, it has been increased to 27. The score for educational qualification has been reduced. Previously, there were 10 marks, now 5 marks are given to non-gazetted employees and 7 marks are given to gazetted employees. The score for training has also been changed, and instead of 7.5 marks, 10 marks are given to non-gazetted employees and 5 marks are given to gazetted employees. The 8 marks for experience working in a geographical area have been removed, while the 5 marks for challenging or special responsibilities have been retained.