Kathmandu – Expressing deep sorrow over the death of Om Prakash Mehta, a young man who was on his way for a holy bath on the occasion of the sacred Shravan Monday, Hamal paid heartfelt tribute to the deceased and wished all those injured a speedy and full recovery.

Hamal stated that the use of lethal force against citizens is an extremely serious and alarming issue for a democratic state. He called for an immediate, impartial, independent, and credible investigation into the incident. According to him, security personnel should prioritize restraint, dialogue, legal standards, and the use of non-lethal methods while managing crowds. He said that firing directly at civilians cannot be considered an acceptable practice in any civilized democracy.

Recalling the use of lethal force against demonstrators during the Gen Z movement, which resulted in loss of life, Hamal said that the incident had raised serious questions about the moral and political accountability of the then Home Minister. He added that the state's approach toward its citizens appears to have remained unchanged. According to him, making gunfire the first response in the name of maintaining peace reflects an outdated and harsh practice that goes against democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law.

Hamal condemned the shooting, saying that indiscriminately firing at citizens and causing deaths neither restores peace nor strengthens public trust in the state. He emphasized that the primary responsibility of security agencies is to protect the lives of citizens and that the use of force should always remain the last resort.

He demanded that Home Minister Gurung accept moral and political responsibility for the incident, resign from office, and ensure that everyone involved, regardless of their position, is brought under the law so that justice is delivered to the victims' families. He also stressed the need for comprehensive reforms in security operations, crowd management, and accountability mechanisms to prevent such tragic incidents from happening again.