En route to Pokhara we were privy to a local dispute over a dead motorcyclist. We reached a long line of traffic that had completely stopped. After some questioning, Pratik found out that the road had been blocked because a local motorcyclist was killed by a hit and run and so locals blocked the highway demanding for the police to arrive and find the killer. While we were exhausted and looking forward to arriving in the touristy haven that was Pokhara, we also wanted to know what was going on and believed that the locals deserved their justice. Excited, some of us went to see the locals organize at the road. But little was there. No one seemed to be fighting for rights, but rather a truck was parked across the road next to where the motorcycle was hit. While we explored, we found out that this was nothing more than corruption.

There is a law in Nepal that demands that when a traffic accident occurs the party at fault is responsible for all the medical bills of the injured and expected to financially support the victim for life. Therefore, often times when drivers hit a pedestrian they might as well kill them. In that case, the cost is much lower. The most important detail to this law is that the family of the victim and the community of the victim receive part of the fine. Thus, the locals were blocking the road demanding for their share. Whether or not the locals may have deeply cared for the victim, this situation was a clear contradiction. We wanted to believe that justice was being observed and enforced. Yet, everyone is trying to get his or her part.

When we had arrived the road had been blocked for four hours already and it seemed that we were never going to get through. But after two hours of waiting the police finally arrived and began negotiations with the locals.