What happened the night Bijay Sah was killed in Sunsari?

The Armed Police Force (APF) has formed an internal investigation committee to probe the fatal shooting of a man in Sunsari district, following mounting public concern over the incident.

A three-member committee has been constituted under the coordination of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rabinraj Karnajit, the APF said on Friday. The committee includes the Superintendent of Police from the No. 1 Baraha Battalion Headquarters, Pakali, under Koshi Province, and a Deputy Superintendent of Police from the APF’s Legal Division.

According to the APF, the committee has already begun its work and will submit a detailed report after completing the investigation. “If any wrongdoing or procedural lapse is found, departmental action will be initiated as per the rules,” the force said in a statement.

APF sources said several senior officers involved in the incident have been recalled to the Baraha Battalion headquarters for questioning. Those summoned include Inspector Manish Kumar Katuwal, commander of the Laukahi Border Out Post (BOP); DSP Ganesh Dutt Pandey, commander of the Haripur Border Security Company; and SP Nirmal Kumar Thapa, commander of No. 4 Battalion, Sunsari.

The incident occurred late Wednesday night when APF personnel opened fire in Koshi Rural Municipality–1, Sunsari, resulting in the death of 45-year-old Vijay Sah, a local resident. Sah was reportedly travelling in one of three rickshaws—two auto-rickshaws and one e-rickshaw—carrying sugar allegedly smuggled from India through the Laukahi border point.

According to the APF, the security team had received intelligence that goods were being brought into Nepal illegally by evading customs duties. When the rickshaws encountered an APF patrol at around midnight, they allegedly attempted to flee.

The APF claims that shots were fired at the security personnel from the rickshaws during the chase. “The security team felt threatened and opened fire in self-defence,” said Kumar Neupane, Deputy Inspector General and chief of the Baraha Battalion under Koshi Province. He described Sah’s death as an “unfortunate incident” that occurred during retaliatory firing.

However, the version of events has raised questions, prompting investigations by both the APF and Nepal Police.

Havildar Navaraj Khatiwada, who was serving as the field commander at the time of the shooting, has been called in for questioning by Nepal Police. Sunsari Police Chief SP Keshav Kumar Thebe confirmed that Khatiwada has been under questioning at the District Police Office since Thursday.

At the time of the incident, five APF personnel were deployed at the Laukahi checkpoint under the command of a senior havildar, officials said.

Following the incident, tensions flared in the area, with locals demanding accountability and justice for the victim. The deadlock was resolved on Thursday after a five-point agreement was reached between the victim’s family and the district administration at the Chief District Officer’s office. Only after the agreement was signed did the family agree to take custody of Sah’s body.

The investigation committee is expected to examine whether the use of force complied with standard operating procedures, assess the sequence of events, and determine responsibility for the fatal shooting.

The incident has once again brought scrutiny on the conduct of security forces during border operations, particularly in cases involving suspected smuggling, where the use of lethal force remains a sensitive and contentious issue.