Sixty-one people have been charged in connection with the violent royalist protest that took place in Tinkune on March 28. Among them, sedition cases are being pressed against 50 individuals, while the remaining 11 face charges of criminal vandalism.
Eight people, including Durga Prasai, face charges of homicide, attempted murder, sedition, criminal vandalism, organized crime, and combined offenses. These charges, filed at Kathmandu District Court, relate to the deaths of Sabin Maharjan and journalist Suresh Rajak during the unrest. The other seven to face the similar offenses are: Harihar Chaulagain, Saroj Gautam alias Tara Rajabadi, Satish Neupane, Gokarna Shahi, Dandapani Regmi, Santosh Kumar Silwal, and Hemraj Tharu.
The charges were filed based on the investigation report submitted by the Kathmandu District Police Range. The police had recommended prosecuting 108 individuals in total.
Furthermore, Rabindra Mishra, senior vice-chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), has been charged with four criminal offenses. He faces charges of sedition, criminal vandalism, organized crime, and combined offenses. Police had held Mishra in custody for 50 days for investigation. However, he was later released after the Supreme Court ordered his release through a habeas corpus petition. RPP General Secretary and lawmaker Dhawal Shumsher Rana is also charged with the same four offenses.
During the protest, demonstrators reportedly vandalized private homes, set fires, and looted the Bhatbhateni Supermarket. Mishra and Rana were present at the protest site in Tinkune and are accused of inciting the crowd.
Before the March 28 protest, RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden had warned that backing Prasai could lead to the party’s downfall, but senior leaders like Rana and Mishra chose to work under his leadership, which ultimately led to the violence.
The March 28 incident also exposed serious flaws within Nepal’s security apparatus. First, there was a lack of coordination among agencies. Second, security forces failed to gather intelligence on Prasai’s plans in advance. Lastly, Nepal’s law enforcement faces severe shortages of essential equipment, with no significant procurement in the last decade.
The government has pointed fingers at former King Gyanendra Shah, alleging that he played a role in orchestrating the protests by appointing Prasai as a commander. On March 27—just a day before the demonstration—Shah met with Prasai, further fueling suspicions.
After the March 28 protest, the campaign of pro-monarchy supporters slowed down. On April 20, the RPP had announced plans to breach the restricted zone near the federal parliament, demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy and the release of its detained leaders. However, the protest failed to gather significant mass support. While the turnout on the streets was minimal, RPP lawmakers managed to stage a symbolic protest inside Singhadurbar, leading to the arrest of RPP Chairperson Lingden, Vice-chairperson Buddhiman Tamang, and Chief Whip Gyanendra Shahi. They were released later in the evening.
Royalist factions have called for a mass showdown on May 29. Nava Raj Subedi, a panchayat-era royalist leader, is leading the monarchy restoration campaign.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has criticized the royalist movement, saying it is not driven by any noble purpose but by narrow self-interest. “These people are not fighting for any great cause. The government has remained relatively quiet, and the people have stayed calm. They are exploiting this situation to put on an unnecessary show of strength,” Oli said. The prime minister has also instructed his party cadres to counter royalist protest.
