As many as five personnel including traffic constable Rajendra Thapa have been transferred to the Kathmandu Metropolitan Traffic Police Division as part of departmental action initiated against them after Thapa beat up a doctor on Sunday night while he was walking home.

According to Senior Superintendent Yagya Binod Pokharel, chief of the Lalitpur Metropolitan Police Range, as part of departmental action, the five cops who were on duty at the time when the incident occurred have been called to Kathmandu Metropolitan Traffic Police Division.

“They will be asked for clarification,” said Pokharel. “Although they are not suspended, they will not work until they provide proper clarification.”

Further action will be taken after the investigation concludes, according to Pokharel.

Dr Kul Bahadur Ghising on Sunday night at around 8:30pm was beaten up by Thapa, who was stationed at the Traffic Police Circle, Lalitpur. Ghising was walking to his apartment in Kusunti after finishing his duty at Arogya Foundation, Pulchowk.

According to Ghising, when he reached Ekantakuna, after crossing Jawalakhel, Thapa accosted him and asked him why he was walking at night.

“The constable punched me on my nose and then proceeded to attack me indiscriminately,” Ghising, 31, told the Post on the phone on Tuesday afternoon from Alka Hospital, where he is receiving treatment. “I had even shown him my ID card and told him I was walking home from the hospital. But he yelled at me, asking me why I was walking at night.”