Police have arrested three individuals on charges of being involved in the arson and vandalism at the house of Lumbini Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya in Arghakhanchi.
During the Gen Z movement on September 9, the chief minister's house in Hatari, Sandhikharka Municipality-1, was vandalized and set on fire.
The chief minister's wife, Deepa Acharya, had filed a complaint against 11 individuals in connection with the incident at the district court in October.
Based on the complaint, the district court had issued arrest warrants for them on charges related to criminal mischief.
Acting on these arrest warrants, police arrested three individuals on Wednesday.
According to Inspector Jhalak Prasad Sharma, the information officer of the District Police Office, Arghakhanchi, investigation has revealed that two of the arrested are businessmen and one is a former soldier.
Inspector Sharma said that the three individuals arrested on Wednesday were presented before the district court on Thursday for a remand extension.
Those arrested include 33-year-old Pushpalal Gaudel, also known as Pushkar Paudel, from Bhaktitol, Sandhikharka Municipality-2. Gaudel runs a workshop.
Another arrested individual is 29-year-old Guru Prasad Khanal, also known as Gurudev, from Ghochekhola, Sandhikharka Municipality-2, who also runs his own workshop.
The police said that the other arrested individual is 39-year-old Chudamani Dhungana from Sandhikharka-2, who is a former Nepal Army soldier.
Deepa Acharya, in her complaint, had identified Khanal, Gaudel, and Dhungana as the masterminds of vandalism and arson at her house.
She had also named nine other individuals in her complaint.
They include Kamal Ghimire, an employee of the Paschimanchal Bus Committee in Sandhikharka; Kushal Chundali from Dharampani, Sandhikharka Municipality-10; Arjun Chundali from the same ward; Sundar Bharati from Aluwakhola in Ward 3; Bishal Kandel from Sandhikharka; Madhav Bhandari from Sandhikharka-2; Madan Pariyar; and Binod Magar from Pulchowk.
Police said that they are absconding and a search operation is ongoing.
According to police, further investigation against the arrested individuals will begin after their remand is extended on Thursday.
The police administration's damage report states that the vandalism and arson at Acharya's house caused damage exceeding Rs 5 million.
