Ncell files police complaint as ICON HQ vandalised, looted during Gen-Z protest

KATHMANDU: Ncell filed a formal complaint at the Kathmandu District Police Office after its headquarters, Ncell ICON in Lainchaur, was vandalised, set alight and looted on September 9 in the name of a Gen Z protest.

In its complaint, the company says criminal groups took advantage of the demonstrations to unleash large-scale destruction, setting fire to property, stealing valuable assets and causing extensive damage to the 10-storey building.

According to the filing, attackers arrived in groups under the guise of protesters and threatened the security guards on duty. The guards were locked inside a room and warned they would be burnt alive if they resisted. The assailants then smashed the front glass panels, forced their way in and vandalised the customer service centre and reception area on the ground floor.

They moved through all 10 floors, destroying office equipment, setting electronics alight and stealing critical documents, including original certificates, licences, land-ownership papers, cash and company safes.

Valuable items such as computers, televisions, printers, refrigerators, ovens, coffee machines and gym equipment were either destroyed or stolen. Personal lockers assigned to employees were broken into, with laptops, jewellery and other belongings taken. Televisions and monitors from meeting rooms were also looted or set alight.

Attackers seized keys from the vehicle room, drove company-owned and third-party rental vehicles into the courtyard and set them alight. Some vehicles were dragged outside and destroyed. Employees’ personal vehicles parked on the premises suffered similar vandalism and arson, resulting in significant financial and material losses.

Ncell has submitted CCTV footage of the attack alongside a detailed inventory of stolen and damaged assets to assist the police investigation. The company has urged the authorities to arrest everyone involved, conduct a thorough inquiry, prosecute the culprits to the fullest extent of the law, recover stolen property and compensate Ncell for the damage.

The full extent of the losses remains under assessment, and Ncell says it will provide further details to the authorities as the investigation progresses.