A video showing a tempo being pushed down a hillside in Kailali has triggered public anger and renewed scrutiny of how state agencies carry out enforcement operations in vulnerable communities. The vehicle belonged to a woman who relied on it for her livelihood, and conflicting claims over what happened have turned the incident into a major accountability issue in Sudurpaschim Province.
The provincial government has formed a five-member investigation committee to examine the incident that occurred in Gaimare of Godawari Municipality-4.
The committee was formed through a ministerial decision of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forests and Environment. It has been directed to submit its findings within seven days.
- Hemraj Bista, Provincial Forest Director – Coordinator
- Kiran Joshi, Assistant Chief District Officer of Kailali – Member
- Janak Padhya, Senior Divisional Forest Officer – Member
- Dhojraj Joshi, Mechanical Engineer at the Transport Management Office, Kailali – Member
- Bijayraj Ojha, Legal Officer – Member
Video Contradicts Official Narrative
The incident dates back to June 12, when authorities were conducting an operation to remove alleged forest encroachments in Godawari Municipality-4.
Video footage that later spread widely shows several individuals appearing to push the tempo down a steep slope. The images quickly drew criticism from the public, many questioning whether officials exceeded their authority during the operation.
What has intensified public concern is the gap between the footage and the explanation issued by the forest office.
Officials maintain that the vehicle slipped down the hillside after becoming uncontrollable on difficult terrain while it was being removed. The office has also described the tempo as an unused and scrap-condition vehicle.
Forest Office Defends Encroachment Drive
The Division Forest Office in Kailali says the area falls within the environmentally sensitive Chure conservation region and has faced long-standing illegal encroachment.
According to the office, more than ten unauthorized structures had already been removed from the area before this incident.
Officials further claim that the tempo had previously been taken near the owner’s residence but was later brought back into the forest area. They say tensions emerged between staff and concerned parties during subsequent efforts to remove it.
Family Rejects Official Claims
The vehicle’s owner, Dhanadevi Dhami, and her supporters reject that account.
They argue that after removing their belongings from the tempo, they were prepared to take it away themselves. Instead, they accuse forest personnel of deliberately forcing the vehicle off the cliff.
Local residents say the tempo was not simply an abandoned vehicle but a primary source of income for the family.
The dispute has widened beyond the fate of a single vehicle. For many residents, the case has become a test of whether enforcement agencies can be held accountable when actions taken in the name of public policy affect the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
Investigation and Demands for Action
Police are investigating the case after taking 12 forest office employees into custody in connection with the incident.
Political parties, social activists and civil society groups have demanded an impartial investigation, compensation for the affected family and legal action against anyone found responsible.
With sharply different versions of events circulating, attention is now focused on the provincial committee’s report.
Its findings are expected to clarify how the tempo ended up at the bottom of the cliff, whether any officials acted improperly and what action should follow.
