KATHMANDU: Transport federations and workers’ organisations have demanded an impartial judicial investigation into the death of bus driver Arjun Dong, who died after setting himself on fire inside his bus in Tripureshwor on Monday.

Six transport federations and workers’ organisations have formed a joint struggle committee, demanding that the circumstances surrounding the incident be investigated, the facts made public and appropriate compensation provided to Dong’s family.

Dong reportedly set himself on fire inside bus No. Ba 5 Kha 4274 in front of the Eye Hospital in Tripureshwor. The bus was also destroyed in the ensuing fire.

The organisations said the investigation should go beyond determining whether a traffic violation had occurred and examine the conduct and procedures followed by traffic police during the dispute with Dong.

According to their joint statement, the bus was travelling from Mulpani to Thankot Bhanjyang when Dong honked after a motorcycle obstructed the road near the Eye Hospital. Traffic police subsequently stopped the bus and asked for its documents, leading to a dispute over a possible traffic fine.

The organisations said additional traffic police personnel later arrived and took the bus to the area in front of the Department of Passports. Passengers were asked to get off and were reportedly kept there for around two hours.

They claimed Dong objected when police attempted to take him to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office in Baggikhana. Traffic police later contacted the vehicle owner and asked him to send Dong to the office.

The owner reportedly contacted Dong, who refused to go, saying he had committed no wrongdoing and had faced mental pressure and harassment from traffic police. The organisations further claimed that the owner had informed the concerned traffic police personnel and office about Dong’s mental condition.

Shortly afterward, Dong allegedly closed the doors of the bus and set himself on fire.

The transport organisations have called for CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, phone records and statements from the police officers involved to be examined to establish how the situation escalated.

“If a traffic rule was violated, it can be subject to legal action, but legal action and mistreatment that drives a worker to death are not the same thing,” the organisations said in their statement.

Nine-point demands

The organisations have put forward a nine-point set of demands, including immediate relief, compensation and rehabilitation for Dong’s family. They have also demanded compensation for the bus owner for the vehicle destroyed in the fire.

They have called for the formation of a judicial investigation committee involving relevant stakeholders to examine the entire sequence of events and make its findings public.

The organisations have also demanded that transport workers be employed under written employment agreements in accordance with the Labour Act, 2017, and registered with the Social Security Fund.

They have sought a 24-hour helpline and complaint mechanism through which transport workers can report alleged mistreatment, harassment and procedural problems involving traffic police.

They have also called for regular monitoring of traffic police inspections and enforcement activities to ensure compliance with legal procedures and codes of conduct.

Other demands include making traffic police operations more technology-based and people-oriented, reviewing the powers delegated to traffic police under road and vehicle laws, and recognising the workplace and mental safety of transport workers as part of overall transport safety.

The organisations have also called for better road infrastructure, including organised and safe bus stops, passenger boarding and alighting areas, toilets, eateries and rest areas for transport workers and passengers.

Warning of further protests

The six organisations have formed a joint struggle committee comprising their presidents and said they would continue their movement until their demands are addressed.

They warned that further peaceful, democratic and lawful protest programmes would be announced if the government failed to address their demands immediately.

The joint statement was signed by Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs President Punya Prasad Sitaula (Saroj), Public Transport Central Federation President Dolanath Khanal, Nepal Truck Transport Entrepreneurs Federation President Rajendra Bikram Baniya, Nepal Transport Independent Workers Organisation President Bhimjwala Rai, All Nepal Transport Workers Association President Dipak KC and Nepal Transport Workers Association General Secretary Jagannath Gautam.

The committee has called for the circumstances surrounding Dong’s death to be made public and for justice and appropriate compensation to be provided to his family.