Complaint Filed Against 23 Individuals for Assaulting Local Representatives and Others
News Summary
- A complaint has been filed against 23 individuals from Humla for detaining and assaulting local representatives and others in Himali Rural Municipality-3, Bajura.
- The assault occurred on May 17 following a dispute related to land donated by the Sudurpashchim Province government for police post construction.
- Joint teams from Nepal Police and Armed Police from Bajura and Humla have been deployed to the Lampata area to locate those involved.
May 24, Dhangadhi – A complaint has been lodged against 23 individuals accused of detaining and assaulting local representatives, including a ward member, in Lampata, Himali Rural Municipality-3 of Bajura district.
On May 17, a group from Thali, Kharpunath Rural Municipality-2 of Humla, allegedly detained and assaulted 25 people including ward member Pemagara Gurung at Lampata. The complaint was registered at the Bajura District Police Office.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shaileshwari Bohara, Chief Police Officer in Bajura, stated that the father of one of the victims, Min Kunwar, filed the complaint accusing the group of detaining and assaulting them.
According to Bohara, the Kunwar family formally registered the complaint against 23 individuals last Saturday. The police office is coordinating with Humla police to search for the suspects.
DSP Shankar Khadka, Chief Police Officer in Humla, also confirmed the ongoing search operation. Despite geographical challenges, security personnel have been deployed to conduct the search.
According to police sources, those named in the complaint from Thali, Kharpunath Rural Municipality-2, include Devaraj Rawal, Kishor Rawal, Chandrabhadur Rawal, Ramdatt Rawal, Sundar Jethara, Mane Jethara, Bir Rawal, Lokesh Rawal, Kaljung Rawal, Gagan Rawal, and Mekh Rawal.
Other accused individuals include Gyanendra Shahi, Sher Rawal, Jaya Rawal, Buddhi Rawal, Brikh Rawal, Kailash Rawal, Paralal Rawal, Kare Rawal, Lama Rawal, Shankar Rawal, Shanta Rawal, and Siddha Karki.
The dispute stems from disagreements over land donated by the Sudurpashchim Province government for building a police post at Lampata. Since early May, tensions have escalated concerning the border and the police post construction.
The group from Kharpunath attacked the house of ward member Pemagara Gurung on May 17 amid the dispute, assaulting the residents and detaining them at Gurung’s home. The group also assaulted other locals including Min Kunwar.
On May 19, the group’s aggression extended to a team led by Mayor Gopal Hamal of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, who had come as part of the “Our Sudurpashchim, We Introduce” campaign. The team, en route to the eastern base camp of Saipal Himal, was stoned by the group and forced to return to Dhangadhi.
The incident in geographically isolated Lampata surfaced only after the mayor’s team managed to reach the area. Injured victims, held hostage and beaten for two days, were later rescued via helicopter.
Following this incident, joint forces from Nepal Police and Armed Police from Bajura and Humla have been deployed to Lampata to conduct security and search operations.
