Operation Romeo (Nepal)

In early November 1995, Operation Romeo was carried out by the Nepal Police to "win the heart and minds of the people". It took place mainly in Rolpa District; but Dang District, and Rukum District were also affected.^[3][5] Chuda Bahadur Shrestha commanded the operation with 2,200 armed police personnel.^[6][7] The operation was said to have been launched to control the criminal activities, though Human Rights Watch called it an "operation focused on trying to dislodge the militant Maoist presence in the area".^[8] Operation Romeo led to human rights abuses, rape and torture on an unknown scale, the arrests of 132 people, and the displacement of 6,000 locals.^[8][9][10] More than twelve people died during the course of the operation, and severe violence against locals took place. No perpetrators were arrested.^[11]

During a televised interview, Khum Bahadur Khadka explained that "the police had acted against persons indulging in anti-monarchical activities." However, outside observers viewed the operation as a crackdown on anti-governmental activities.^[8] As a result of the brutal operation, many locals became Maoist sympathizers and became convinced that the government was their opponent.^[8] Baburam Bhattarai described the operation as a "reign of terror against the poor peasants".^[3]

Three months later, the Nepalese Civil War was declared by the Maoists.^[11] One author stated that this operation was not the root of the war: "The Romeo Operation helped accelerate the conflict, which might otherwise have taken a lengthy period of preparation, but the assertion that Operation Romeo was a core cause of the conflict is not accurate".^[11]