Ganesh Nepali’s family refuses to claim body, seeks state accountability over death

The family of Ganesh Nepali, who died after setting himself on fire outside the Department of Passports in Kathmandu, has refused to claim his body. They are demanding that a state agency take responsibility for the incident, which they say was triggered by municipal police placing a wheel lock on his motorcycle.

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Discussions are underway on various issues, but no conclusion has been reached yet. The family’s position is that the body will not be taken until there is a clear commitment from the government.

Discussions between the family and government officials, led by Kathmandu Chief District Officer Ishwar Raj Paudel, are underway. Ganesh's nephew, Mann Nepali, stated that the family will not collect the body until a clear commitment is made by the government. Bir Hospital, where Ganesh was treated before his death, transferred his body to the mortuary at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital due to a lack of facilities for long-term preservation.

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Bir Hospital does not have the required infrastructure to keep the body for a long time.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has pledged support for the family, including financial assistance, employment opportunities, and free education for Ganesh's children. KMC will also coordinate with the government to prevent similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, a five-member committee is investigating the circumstances surrounding Ganesh's death, which reportedly began with an argument with a municipal police officer over motorcycle parking.

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An agreement will be reached soon.