Demonstrators gathered in Maitigarh Mandal on Friday demanding justice for Ganesh Nepali, a taxi driver who died after being set on fire near the passport office.
The protest was organized by residents of Nepal’s native Mugu district, taxi drivers and members of the Gen Z movement. After the demonstration in Maitighar, protesters attempted to march to Bir Hospital, where a Nepalese man died during treatment, but were stopped by police in Bhadrakali.
The Scientific Socialist Students Union also organized a separate protest in Maitighar.
Protesters carried signs reading “Down with the fascist government,” “Compensate the victim’s family,” and “Stop road terror.”
Nepali, originally from Mugu and living in Bhaktapur with his wife and young daughter, earned his living as a taxi driver.
He suffered serious burns after dousing himself with petrol and setting himself on fire near the passport office in Tripureshwor on Thursday. He died on Friday while being treated at Bir Hospital.
According to police, the incident occurred after police in the capital city of Kathmandu blocked the wheel of a Nepali motorcycle for alleged illegal parking and attempted to confiscate the vehicle. Nepal then took gasoline from his motorcycle, doused himself and set him on fire.