Driver dies after setting himself ablaze, family blames city police fines

A ride-hailing driver in Kathmandu died tragically after setting himself on fire, an act his family attributes to persistent harassment and fines from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City police. Ganesh Nepali, 26, died from his injuries after the incident outside the Department of Passports on Thursday.

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The city police put a lock on my motorcycle when I went to collect goods yesterday. Now, I have to pay Rs1,000.

According to messages sent to his nephew a week prior, Ganesh had expressed distress over repeated encounters with city police. One message detailed how his motorcycle was locked and he was fined 1,000 Nepali rupees, ending with crying emojis. His family stated he often complained about facing fines multiple times on the same day while working.

Ganesh's elder brother, Madan Nepali, was informed of the incident by police and rushed to the hospital. He recounted that Ganesh, who lived in Bhaktapur with his wife and young daughter but was staying with his brother in Kathmandu, had left for work early that morning. In his final moments at the hospital, Ganesh reportedly asked his brother to care for their parents and blamed metropolitan authorities for his desperate act.

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He told me to look after our parents and blamed the metropolitan authorities for what happened. After that, he could not speak anymore.

Police officials confirmed that Ganesh's motorcycle had been wheel-locked by Kathmandu Metropolitan City police for obstructing public movement. The incident occurred when a vehicle arrived to remove the motorcycle after Ganesh reportedly refused to pay the fine. Police intervened and took him to Bir Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. The chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City police stated that wheel locks are used for vehicles blocking footpaths or public movement.

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We put wheel locks on vehicles when they obstruct public movement or block footpaths. A metropolitan police team had also placed a wheel lock on his motorcycle. The incident occurred when a vehicle arrived to remove the motorcycle after he refused to pay the fine.