One killed, six hurt in scuffle, curfew imposed

Sanischare, February 23: Following the Thursday scuffle between locals and the exiled Bhutanese at Sanischare, police have imposed curfew from 4 pm till 5 am along 5 kms from the Mahendra Highway, to bring the situation under control since on Friday also the locals after entering camps have set fire at Sector ‘K’.

Gopal Khadka, 22, of Sector F/1-01 died while six were hurt in a scuffle with locals and police on Thursday after locals bet Bhutanese students who were studying near Pashupati community forest on the charge of stealing fire woods. 

The condition of those injured, who are undergoing treatment at Koshi Zonal Hospital in Biratnagar, is reported to have been serious.

Eyewitness talking to BNS said that after entering the camp, the villagers attacked with khukuris on Thursday night and fight engulfed.

According to Sashi Chimoriya, Camp Management Committee (CMC) member at Sanischare,  locals from Jirkhimti and Aaisbari today also entered camps and set fire. 

The police on Friday made blind fires and shot several tear gas cells to bring the situation under its control. Meanwhile, Karna Bahadur Gurung of K/1-50 and Dilli Ram Dhungana of B/2-25 are seriously injured while a local is also reported to have hurt in the firing.

Talking to BNS in telephone, camp secretary of Beldangi-II, Hari Bangaley have urged for patience of both refugees and the locals.

Meanwhile, TWMN-Bhutan in a press statement has sought attention of concerned authorities to take immediate measures to bring the situation into normalcy. Bhutan News Service/PP Siwakoti