Bulldozers Raze Gompa and Temple on Buddha Jayanti, Two-Week Reign of Terror from Capital to Districts

Kathmandu — A government bulldozer rampage has been underway for two weeks, spreading from the federal capital Kathmandu to other districts. Amid rain and downpours, the government has been swiftly demolishing settlements, giving squatters just a few hours to move their belongings. The demolition campaign, carried out with hundreds of security personnel deployed, did not even pause on Buddha Jayanti.

While Buddhists across the country were observing prayers and paying homage to Lord Gautam Buddha, bulldozers were being deployed at a gompa in Balkhu, Kathmandu. The Sangye Chholing Gompa, registered on November 13, 2078 BS, was demolished on Friday, the very day of Baisakh Shukla Purnima. The Pathibhara Devi Temple located within the same settlement was also razed by bulldozers.

Locals said they pleaded with government officials and security personnel not to demolish the gompa at least on the day of Buddha Jayanti, but they refused to listen. Both religious sites were demolished as part of the drive to remove structures built by encroaching on public land. However, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City had removed Buddha statues and other important materials before deploying the bulldozers. Settlements in Thapathali, Gairigaun, Shantinagar, and Manohara have already been demolished, and bulldozers were also deployed in Balkhu and Banshighat on Friday.