Family of Ward Member Beaten Severely Before Dhangadhi Mayor’s Arrival; Police Failed to Provide Prior Information

May 21, Dhangadhi – A team en route to Saipal’s Ranisain Basecamp for tourism promotion retreated after being attacked with stones by an angry group amid a border dispute in Bajura district.

The team, led by Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Gopal Hamal, was proceeding towards Ranisain Basecamp in Saipal Himal under the “Our Far-West, We Showcase” campaign.

However, a group in Lampata, Himali Rural Municipality-3, blocked the Mayor’s team due to a border dispute between Bajura and Humla. After the group attacked by hurling stones, elected representatives, staff, and other stakeholders present for tourism promotion fled to save their lives.

Videos on social media show the team fleeing after around 300 locals from Kharpunath Rural Municipality-2, Thali, Humla, threw stones at the group.

Residents of Thali have been asserting their claim over the Lampata area, which has been the source of the dispute.

The situation escalated after the Far-Western Province government allocated NPR 4 million for the construction of a police outpost. The locals of Kharpunath were firmly opposed to building the police outpost under any circumstances. On learning about the Dhangadhi team’s planned visit, locals gathered in the area.

Severe Beating of Ward Member’s Family

Ward member Pema Gara Gurung of Himali Rural Municipality-3 had donated land for the temporary police outpost in Lampata. Subsequently, he and his family became targets in the eyes of Thali villagers of Humla.

Locals claim that Thali residents asserting their claim to Lampata attacked Gurung’s family, who were associated with the outpost plan.

Locals had gathered at the ward member’s house in Lampata on the border since May 16. On May 17, Gurung’s house was attacked due to his donation of land for the police outpost. Pema Gurung and his wife, Laxmi Gurung, were severely beaten inside their home.

Govind Bahadur Mall, Chairperson of Himali Rural Municipality, reported that the ward member’s family also suffered home seizure and looting alongside the assault.

In the same incident, the Chief Administrative Officer of Himali, Kul Bahadur Thapa, was also reportedly attacked. Communication blackouts have limited access to detailed information about the situation.

Mall added that the police administration’s failure to provide adequate information led to a second attack when the team facilitating the Mayor Hamal-led delegation to Saipal arrived.

“Before the team arrived, the ward member’s family had already been severely beaten and held under control by locals from Kharpunath. When we inquired with the district police, the response was that the incident had been resolved and was under control,” said Mall. “The team from Dhangadhi proceeded but found a different reality on arrival and barely escaped with their lives.”

According to him, it was only upon reaching Lampata that they learned of the near-fatal beating of the ward member’s family, who were freed from the control of the angry group only after the arrival of the Dhangadhi team.

Was the Attack Due to Flying a Drone?

The Bajura District Police Office stated that the attack happened when the Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan team flew a drone to capture video in Lampata, which triggered the dispute.

However, the beating of the ward member and his family occurred before the Dhangadhi tourism promotion team arrived. Chairperson Mall clarified that the attack was not due to the drone but due to the longstanding border dispute and occurred according to plan.

The delegation from Himali Rural Municipality, along with local officials and representatives, were traveling to Saipal’s Ranisain to organize a debate program. Tulsi Ram Rokaya, head of the District Coordination Committee, accompanied them.

Initially, it was the Himali Rural Municipality team, followed by the Dhangadhi team. The Dhangadhi team could not reach the incident site, but locals from Kharpunath attacked the Himali team and pushed them back to their location.

Police Did Not Provide Prior Warning

Mayor Gopal Hamal of Dhangadhi revealed that they had no prior information about the border dispute or the violent attack before arriving at Lampata.

He only learned about the near-fatal beating of the ward member and others upon reaching the foot of Lampata and then decided not to proceed further.

However, Hamal stated that after dispersing the group attacking the Himali Chairperson’s team, they managed to reach the place where the incident happened. “Had we known about the conflict between locals, we would not have proceeded. We were unaware of this,” he said. “Upon learning that the ward member had been attacked, we did not go up the hill. During the attack on the Himali Chairperson, he fled down. The angry group also destroyed a wooden bridge. After that, we retreated.” He emphasized that the attack was not due to flying a drone.

The Dhangadhi team, including the mayor, headed to Saipal Basecamp Ranisain on April 14 as part of the “Our Far-West, We Showcase” campaign. The District Chief Officer of Bajura was informed about the itinerary on April 12.

However, the security forces failed to inform those going to Ranisain about the ongoing incidents in Lampata, leading to the attack and mistreatment of the team.

As the Dhangadhi and Himali Rural Municipality teams returned after exercising restraint, no further incidents occurred.

After reaching Gumba in Himali Rural Municipality, Mayor Hamal contacted the District Chief Officer and Home Secretary to report the incident and requested immediate rescue for the injured. Subsequently, the government helicopter evacuated the critically injured ward member and others on May 17.