Rebika Khatri, a 22-year-old resident of Udayapur, was preparing to return to her rented apartment last Friday at around 4 PM after completing an audit at a food warehouse in Jadibuti.
She was aware that royalist groups were protesting in Kathmandu that day, but she had no idea that a violent situation had already erupted in Koteshwor, which was on her way home.
As she approached Koteshwor, she saw vehicles being set on fire. At the time, she was feeling unwell and was afraid to proceed alone. She then called her cousin Dinesh Khatri, who lived in Shankarmarg behind the SOS area in Koteshwor, to accompany her.
By then, royalist protesters draped in the national flag were looting the Bhatbhateni Supermarket in Koteshwor. Some carried clothing, while others grabbed bottles of beer and whiskey.
Shot Near Their Home
Concerned about his sister’s health and the smoke from burning tires, 24-year-old Dinesh immediately went to pick her up. They decided to cross the overhead bridge in Koteshwor and take an alternative route home.
Dinesh helped Rebika cross the main road. From there, they took a detour through the SOS area and entered a narrow alley towards their home. However, just as they were about to reach their residence, an unexpected tragedy struck.
Only two steps away from their home, both of them were shot. They had no idea where the bullets came from or who fired them. “I was about to enter the house with my sister when we heard a loud bang,” Dinesh recalled.
The police had been dispersing the protesters gathered in Tripureshwor, forcing them towards Koteshwor. The authorities were using tear gas and firing warning shots in the area. Amidst this, the siblings were struck by bullets.
“We saw the police running on the main road, but there was no chaos in the alley where we were. Just as we were about to enter the house, we were hit,” said Dinesh. Local residents watching from their rooftops claimed that the police had been firing from the direction of Bhatbhateni.
Dinesh was hit in the leg but sustained a minor injury as the bullet merely grazed him. However, Rebika suffered a severe gunshot wound in her right thigh.
Seeing his sister covered in blood, Dinesh didn’t even realize that he was injured himself. He tried to stop her bleeding using his hands and his yellow jacket, but it wasn’t enough.
Struggle for Medical Help
“I was panicked seeing my sister in a pool of blood. I rushed her to a nearby clinic for first aid,” Dinesh recounted. Only then did he notice that his own leg was bleeding as well.
Local residents helped transport Rebika to a hospital. Dinesh desperately called for an ambulance, but due to the ongoing protests, it took nearly two hours to arrive. Eventually, she was taken to the Civil Service Hospital in Baneshwor.
Rebika, who usually lived in Gwarko, had decided to go to her cousin’s house that day due to the violent protests. She had skipped lunch at work and had planned to eat with her brother upon reaching home.
Dinesh explained, “She had called me earlier saying, ‘I haven’t even had lunch today, and the road is covered in smoke. I can’t go to my room.’ We had planned to eat together, but she was shot before we could reach home.”
Investigation and Medical Condition
Locals handed over a bullet found near Dinesh’s home to Baneshwor Police Circle’s DSP, Birendra Godar, for investigation.
Dinesh, who had recently completed his bachelor’s degree, was preparing to go to Australia for further studies. His visa had been approved, and he was set to leave in a month. However, the incident has delayed his plans, as he now needs time to recover from his injuries.
Currently, Rebika remains in the ICU at the Civil Service Hospital, while Dinesh has been discharged and is recovering at home. His nephew, Suraj Basnet, is looking after him.
According to Suraj, Rebika was initially placed on a ventilator for four days before being moved to the ICU on Monday. “She has already received 35 pints of blood, and we don’t know how much more will be needed,” he said. Her condition remains critical.
Rebika, a third-year BBS student at Koteshwor Campus, is worried about her final exams scheduled for May. Her sister, Anita Khatri, said, “Her exams are in May, but she is lying in a hospital bed. We are deeply worried.”
On Tuesday, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MPs—Sobita Gautam, Dr. Chanda Karki, and Ganesh Parajuli—visited Rebika in the hospital. Her father, Tulsi Ram Khatri, urged them to help, stating, “My daughter was neither a protester nor a looter at Bhatbhateni. She was just returning from work and got shot. Who will take responsibility for this?”
Excessive Force by Police?
The incident has fueled debate over both the violent actions of royalist groups, including figures like Durga Prasain, and the heavy-handed response by the police. Critics argue that excessive force was used to control the protests.
According to data from the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, during Friday’s protests, police fired 746 rounds of tear gas, 192 blank rounds, 58 warning shots, and 239 rounds of pellets. Additionally, two live rounds were fired from pistols. These figures only account for Nepal Police, excluding further ammunition used by the Armed Police Force.
Following the incident, the Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur police forces were given special riot control training on Wednesday. At the training, AIG Tek Prasad Tamang emphasized the importance of professional and responsible crowd control.
“This training acknowledges that there were shortcomings in handling Friday’s protests,” admitted a senior police officer.
Rajkumar Pandey, a shopkeeper in the area, alleged that the police fired indiscriminately. “Before these siblings were shot, police were already firing recklessly in Phoolbari Marg. There were no active protesters when they arrived, yet the police kept shooting.”
AIG Tamang stated that an internal investigation is underway. “Only those in charge on the ground know the exact situation, but since questions have been raised, we are looking into the matter,” he said.
Seeking Justice
So far, Rebika and Dinesh’s medical expenses have exceeded NPR 500,000, but they have not received any financial assistance. Kathmandu’s Chief District Officer, Rishiram Tiwari, has assured the family that the government will cover all medical costs. “We will arrange for all necessary treatment,” he said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, students at Koteshwor Campus have staged protests demanding justice for Rebika. They chanted slogans such as “Punish those responsible for the shooting,” “We want justice,” and “Students should not be shot.”
Koteshwor Campus student union president Sanjay Budhathoki condemned the police action. “If the government refuses to cover her medical expenses, we will continue to protest,” he warned. “We are ready to launch further demonstrations if necessary.”
