Kathamndu:  A heated dispute between Nepal's Inspector General of Police (IGP) Basantabahadur Kunwar and Additional Inspector General (AIG) Shyam Gyawali has caused significant upheaval within the police force, centering around the investigation of a fraudulent operation involving the illegal trafficking of Nepali citizens to the United States under the guise of Bhutanese refugees.

The conflict between Kunwar and Gyawali, driven by their ambitions to hold the position of IGP, has led both individuals to undermine each other's authority in relation to the ongoing probe into the Bhutanese refugee gang. This power struggle has created tension within the upper echelons of the police force.

The situation intensified when Kunwar was promoted to the rank of Inspector General (IG), while Gyawali remained an additional inspector general, resulting in a rank disparity between the two. Gyawali, seeking support from influential figures such as Ganga Dahal's husband (son-in-law of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda), Jiwan Acharya, and Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the Vice-Chairman and Spokesperson of the Maoist Center, appeared to be a strong contender for the position of Inspector General.

However, the contest for the top role took an unexpected turn when Sher Bahadur Deuwa, President of the Nepali Congress, intervened and halted Gyawali's progression during a cabinet meeting convened to appoint a new IGP. Deuwa's phone call served as a roadblock to Gyawali's advancement, allegedly stemming from a prior disagreement over cabinet expansion. Despite earlier assurances and support, Gyawali's aspirations were dashed, leaving the position of Inspector General in limbo.

The controversy between Kunwar and Gyawali has also had repercussions on the investigation into the fake Bhutanese refugee cases, granting Gyawali an upper hand over Inspector General Kunwar. Additionally, Gyawali, as the head of the Valley Police Office, has deviated from traditional practices by directly instructing Manoj KC, the head of the Crime Investigation Division, bypassing Kunwar's authority.

Tensions between Kunwar and Gyawali further escalated when the arrest of former Home Minister Balakrishna Khand took place without Kunwar's knowledge, raising concerns about command structure and information flow within the police force. Kunwar expressed dissatisfaction with being left uninformed about the operation.

Subsequently, Gyawali has aligned closely with Home Minister Shrestha, sidelining Kunwar in the decision-making process. Police officers have raised concerns about the potential impact on promotion and career advancement based on the handling of this issue.

Under Gyawali's leadership as head of the Crime Investigation Division, a joint team consisting of Gyawali, IGP Kunwar, and Home Minister Shrestha visited a delegation on Wednesday. Their focus was on shedding light on an incident involving Keshaw Dulal and Tank Gurung, who had been overseeing the case of the fake Bhutanese refugee known as "Nike."

Recent revelations have cast suspicion on Kunwar's involvement in the case. Details of conversations between Dulal and the former Home Secretary, Technarayand Pandey, were uncovered from Dulal's mobile phone during the investigation, raising questions about their connections.

The controversy within the police force regarding the investigation of the fake Bhutanese refugee scam is a grave matter that has the potential to erode public trust in the institution. It is imperative for the authorities to ensure a fair and impartial investigation and hold accountable those responsible for perpetrating the scam.